Monarch offense trounces Owls

Valley College baseball scored a season high 17 runs, behind sophomore Will White and freshmen Tino Valdez combining for six RBI’s.

By Kevin Khachatryan, Staff Writer

Starting Freshman James Coker makes his first carrer start of the 2023 western state conference season agisnt the Citrus Owls at Valley College on the 24th of March 2023. (Xavier Dubon | Valley Star)

Following a postponement due to rain, the Monarchs would continue to dominate in series against the Owls, winning 17-2.

Valley College (15-9, 7-1 WSC) hosted Citrus College (5-18, WSC 1-7) on a windy Friday afternoon. Winning by the score of 8-2 on Thursday, Valley would double their runs to pour the offense onto Citrus college.

“We had a couple of extra outs and errors that they gave us,” said head coach Dave Mallas. “It was really windy today and our hitters did a really good job of using the right side of the field and put pressure on the defense.”

Freshman James Coker would get the start and throw five innings, allowing five hits, one run and strike out six. Next in line would be sophomore Andy Rodriguez, freshmen Morgan Jennings and Justin Villanueva. To pitch in the ninth, the ball would be handed to sophomore Josh Balos, who would nail down the coffin with a 1-2-3 inning.

After the run scored off of Coker, the only other run the Owls were able to notch was in the seventh inning against Jennings from a ground ball.

To start the second inning, sophomore Brandon Cuervo would hit a single that scored freshman Sean David from second. With Cuervo on third after a single from freshman Tino Valdez, freshman Luis Torres would follow up with a sacrifice fly to score Cuervo.

Monarchs freshman designated hitter Max Aude hits a rbi double in the third inning to add to the lead aginst the Citrus Owls in the second game of the series at Valley college on the 24th of March 2023 (Xavier | Valley Star)

The Monarchs would stay hot into the third inning, tallying up on four hits, combined with errors, Valley would score five runs. With freshmen Max Aude, David and Valdez all collecting an RBI, the inning would cap off by sophomore Will White who doubled and brought in Cuervo and Aude.

“The wind was definitely a factor,” said Mallas. “Since we have had this field, the right side of the field was really carrying us to score, and the did a good job offensively hitting it that way.”

Leading 7-0 going into the sixth inning, seven straight batters would each get a hit and an RBI. Coming from David, Aude, Cuervo, Valdez, and sophomores Tyler Olivas, Bobby Velasco and White. Valley would bat around the order and the inning would reach a climax as Olivas hit a sac-fly to score Valdez.

For the finale of the Monarch’s offense in the seventh inning, sophomore Elvis Park would hit a double into right field, scoring David. Valdez would follow up with a single into right field that would bring home Park, making the final score, 17-2.

“Offensively the players from 1-9 just go out their and take care of their business,” said the head coach. “The last couple days both lineups were tough outs and it’s fun to watch when their clicking on both sides.”

Valley will finish off the three-game series against Citrus, traveling on Monday at 2:30 p.m.