Baseball:
It’s always a great thing to get off to a quick start in league.
And none better in the area than the Baseline League.
Etiwanda trailed its host from Rancho Cucamonga, 1-0, as they grabbed their bats in the top of the sixth inning.
The Eagles were able to score four times on three hits, two walks and an error, and they held off the Cougars, 4-1.
Michael Aleman went the distance, allowing one run on five hits.
Aleman issued three walks and registered six strikeouts.
Sixty-two of his 96 pitches were strikes.
Grant Thomas walked and his RBI single in the bottom of the third gave RCHS a 1-0 lead.
Ethan Diaz walked and singled.
Collin Wong, Braeden Christian and Trevor Newman had one single apiece.
Mason Sanchez was stuck with the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Sanchez issued four walks and didn’t register a strikeout.
Trevor Newman was charged with an unearned run on one hit over 1 2/3 innings.
Newman walked two and fanned three EHS batters.
Adam Ornelas went 3-for-4 with an RBI single in the sixth to give Etiwanda a 4-1 lead.
Luke Severns’ sixth-inning singled plated two Eagles.
Angel Mejia drew a pair of walks and singled.
James Milam walked, singled and scored.
Peyton Ramos reached base on an error and scored.
Jaxson Milius drew three walks and scored one run.
Frank Gonzales singled twice in three at-bats.
Up next: The Eagles travel to Brea Olinda on Thursday at 3.
The Cougars host Alta Loma on Friday at 3:15.
Quotable:
EHS coach, Don Furnald: “It’s been a grind so far to start the season and today was no different. We had to overcome some mistakes, but we found a way. League road wins never come easy. 1-0 was the goal this week.”
EHS pitcher, Michael Aleman: “It was a struggle not being able to really land breaking balls early, but my defense was making plays for me and keeping us in the game. And we got the win.”
Box Score:
EHS: 0-0-0-0-0-4-0-(4)
RC: 0-0-1-0-0-0-0-(1)
Win: Michael Aleman
Loss: Mason Sanchez
Records: Etiwanda (3-5, 1-0); RCHS (4-4, 0-1)