The Ignacio High School baseball team had creative ways to manufacture runs while using a deep pitching rotation to shut out the Dolores Bears on Tuesday afternoon.
The Bobcats mustered only six hits in the contest, but the combination of Juanito Medina, Tucker Ward and Kruz Pardo on the mound barely surrendered a hit for the Bears in Igancio’s 7-0 win.
As a team, Ignacio struck out 11 Dolores batters and didn’t issue a walk while it allowed only three hits.
“Our bats weren’t really alive (Tuesday), but we played great defense and our pitching was stellar,” Ignacio head coach Robert Miller said.
Medina started the game and went three strong innings. Ward backed him up for another three before Pardo slammed the door in the seventh.
Medina got the win after striking out five and allowing only one hit. Ward struck out six batters and allowed the Bears’ other two hits.
Ignacio (7-3, 3-0 2A District 2 League) manufactured all of its runs from the bottom-half of the lineup. Medina, who came in to pinch-hit for Kai Roubideaux at the sixth spot in the fourth inning, went 1-for-1 with two runs scored. Andrew Martinez, Chance Hine and Joe Herrera all added one run. Roubideaux went 1-for-2 and also finished with a run scored.
Ignacio’s top of the order had a tough time slowing down its timing. Dolores pitcher Brandon Ward relied heavily on his off-speed pitches. His tortoise-like pitching caused the heart of Ignacio’s lineup – Ward, Austin McCaw and Zach Weinrich – to go 1-for-11 with one run.
“We weren’t used to his style; they throw harder in batting practice,” said Pardo, son of Arnulfo and Heather Pardo. “By the end of the game, we got used to it.”
Dolores’ Ward went seven full innings, allowed seven runs and struck out three Ignacio batters.
“All of our hitters, especially our best hitters, seemed to be out on their front foot all day long,” Mille0 saidr. “I told them to think about driving the ball and watch it more.”
Ignacio had seven stolen bases and committed only one fielding error.
The game was scoreless until the second inning, when Weinrich scored from third base on a wild pitch. He reached base on a single to right field.
The Bobcats scored their second run in the same inning with the bases loaded and one out. With Hine up and Roubideaux on third, Hine struck out swinging, but the ball got past Dolores catcher David Schmittel to allow Roubideaux to score.
In the fourth inning, Medina scored from third base on a throwing error from the Dolores pitcher, who tried to pick off Herrera at second base. Herrera advanced to third on the error.
“Our defense is killer, our pitching is really good,” said Pardo, who also went 1-for-4 with two runs batted in.
Anthony Manzanres was the only Bobcat who had a multiple-hit game. He went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Ignacio will be on the road for a doubleheader against Dove Creek at 2 p.m. Saturday.
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
