Pictured: Cole Koniarsky (#20), Ty Borgogno (#4) & Luke Solis (#7) congratulating Matthews after a recent home run
Baseball:
It seems the key ingredients to a historic baseball season almost always includes a couple of stars and a number of vital role players that don’t get enough credit for what they’ve contributed.
Ayala senior Mateo Matthews might be the sixth leading hitter when it comes to average, but he has the stats and impact of a leading man.
The Bulldogs lineup is loaded with guys like Troy McCain (.512 average, 22 hits, 20 runs, 15 RBIs, eight doubles & three home runs), Ty Borgogno (.426, 23 hits, 15 runs, 15 RBIs, eight doubles), Cole Koniarsky (.397, 23 hits, 16 runs, 20 RBIs, four doubles, three home runs), Jacob Badawi (.382, 21 hits, 19 runs, 19 RBIs, four doubles, two triples, two home runs) and Damien Delgadillo (.355, 11 hits, 14 runs, 16 RBIs, five doubles, one home run).
And their pitching staff (Thomas Cerecedes and Andreas Pasillas) features a pair of guys that are both 6-0.
Ayala is currently ranked No. 1 in the CIF-SS Division 1 poll and No. 21 in the state of California by MaxPreps.
They’ve won 10 consecutive games, including the first eight in Palomares League play.
Again, as mentioned, the Bulldogs don’t have a hole in their lineup, and the five guys mentioned above are studs, but check out the league stats and contributions by Mateo Matthews.
In the last four games alone, he’s hit three home runs.
And his overall stats in league have Matthews going 13-for-30 (433 average) at the plate, with five home runs, nine runs scored and 19 RBIs.
Over that eight-game stretch, Ayala has outscored its Palomares League counterparts by a combined margin of 93-26
Through the first 15 games of the 2021 season, Matthews is batting .379.
He’s first in RBI’s (24), home runs (six) and slugging (.741) percentage.
Matthews is tied for second in hits (22) and OPS (1.187), and fourth in doubles (three).
It goes without saying that every baseball team could use a guy like Mateo Matthews, and Ayala knows they’re fortunate to have him in their dugout.
Quotable:
Ayala coach, Chris Vogt: “Mateo is the perfect teammate. He keeps things loose, but also leads by example. He always has shown talent but during the shut down, he went to work on his body to add strength. He is going to do big things at the next level.”
Mateo Matthews in Palomares League Games:
4/9: 2-5, HR, 1R, 2RBI in an (18-2 victory over Alta Loma)
4/14: 1-3, Double, 1R RBI (7-1 Claremont)
4/16: 1-4, 1R, 2RBI (9-5 Glendora)
4/21: 1-3, HR 1R, 3RBI (8-0 Colony)
4/23: 2-3, HR 1R, 2RBI (6-3 Bonita)
4/28: 1-5 2RBI (14-8 Alta Loma)
4/20: 2-4, HR, 4RBI, 1R 15-7 (Alta Loma)
5/5: 3-3, HR, 3R, 3RBI (16-0 Claremont)
Totals: 13-30, 5HR, 9 runs, 19 RBI
Palomares League Standings Through May 5:
Ayala (14-1 overall, 8-0 in league)
Bonita (8-4, 5-3)
Glendora (9-9, 4-4)
Claremont (10-10, 4-4)
Alta Loma (3-10, 3-5)
Colony (1-14, 0-8)
Ayala’s Remaining Schedule:
5/7: Claremont at Ayala
5/12: Ayala at Glendora
5/14: Glendora at Ayala
5/19: Colony at Ayala
5/21: Ayala at Colony
5/22: Ayala at Yucaipa
5/26: Ayala at Bonita
5/28: Bonita at Ayala
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