SOARING AGAIN

Clovis West undefeated in Easter Classic; DeLaTorre solid on the mound for Eagles

By: Chris Alvarez
VSP Contributing Writer-

The Clovis West Golden Eagles showed up to Stan Bledsoe Field on Wednesday morning a little after 8 a.m. under cloudy skies. They didn’t know whether they would be able to play on a field that was soaked from the rain through out the previous night and with rain prior to the game. After players, coaches and the field crew worked valiantly for nearly four hours, the field was ready for play.

Offensively, both teams started slow out of the gates. Part of the reason was Clovis West starting pitcher Chris DeLaTorre pitching a solid game for the Eagles. The junior righthander, struck out four of the first seven batters he faced and the game was scoreless after two. He used solid command to work both sides of the plate and mixing his pitches keeping Crater hitters off balance all game long.

The Eagles got it going in the third, when Jake Alvarez singled through the infield and into right field. Alvarez then stole second base and J.D. Salles was hit by a pitch setting up runners at first and second. Connor Buss stepped up and hit the ball off the rightfielder’s glove, scoring Alvarez. Jared Lee followed with a sacrifice line drive to center, which scored Salles and gave Clovis West a 2-0 lead. John Koretoff followed with a 2-out single to left, scoring Buss and just like that it was a 3-0 Eagles advantage.

Crater responded in the 4th inning, when Christian Massey went deep to center field for a solo home run, bringing Crater within two runs at 3-1. But Delatorre wouldn’t let that get hit to him, as he shut down the Crater hitters for the rest of the inning.

“I had my curveball and cutter working today. It’s also a tremendous help when your defense plays well,” said DeLaTorre.

“Chris looked good today. He was hitting his spots and his curveball was working,” said CW head coach Kevin Patrick.

Clovis West again responded in the 4th inning putting up 3 runs on 4 hits. Tommy Rowan led off with a hit, followed by an Eric Karch single up the middle putting runners on the corners. Alvarez hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring pinch runner Joe Smith. Salles followed with a hit and after he stole 2nd base, it was two runners in scoring position again for the Eagles. Buss hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Karch and Jared Lee answered that with a two out hit to left scoring Salles and giving Clovis West a 6-1 lead.

“We are swinging the bats well right now. We knew coming into the year that pitching and defense would be a strength, but it’s nice to get the good situational hitting,” Patrick said.

Clovis West got back to work in the 5th inning when Sean Silva lead off with a base hit up the middle and then stole second base. With one out, Joe Smith’s single to right scored pinch runner Karson Allen, giving the Eagles a 7-1 lead.

The Eagles put the game away in the sixth inning when six consecutive hitters reached base to end the game via mercy rule. Salles lead off the inning, followed by a Buss double, Lee hit a 2 rbi single to right giving the Eagles a 9-1 lead. Michael Gilleland singled to left, and Alex Nahigian walked loading the bases. Alex Dibble put the game away when he hit a shot to the gap in left, scoring 2 runs and ending the game with an 11-1 Eagles win.

DeLaTorre picked up the win for the Eagles scattering four hits, allowing one run and striking out seven.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed!