SALINAS VALLEY — The battle for the Cypress Division baseball title could go down to the last game as the King City Mustangs won a home game and lost on the road to the North Salinas Vikings.
The Mustangs are a game ahead in the standings with just four games left in the regular season.
King City showed both its offensive and firepower and strong pitching as they defeated the Vikings, 7-1, last Tuesday at home. The Mustangs jumped out early with a four-run first inning and never looked back.
“Joaquin Sabala led the way on the mound, allowing just one unearned run over 5.1 innings and had seven strikeouts,” said King City head coach Gabriel Soto. “Ernesto Aguirre added scoreless relief. Offensively, RJ Ayon paced the lineup with two hits, and Dylan Conaster drove in two runs.”
King City swiped 14 bases with contributions from Jacoby Chavez, Axel Chavez, Joey Pina and Eddie Rangel.
In the rematch in Salinas, the Mustangs lost in a pitcher’s dual, 1-0. Pina turned in a strong performance, allowing just one run over six innings with seven strikeouts. Aguirre accounted for the team’s lone hit. The Mustangs played solid defense in the nailbiter.
King City now turns the focus to another major test this week against a strong Watsonville team. They played at Watsonville on Monday (after press deadlines) and will host the Wildcatz on Thursday.
“Our team understands the importance of the stretch ahead,” Soto said. “We just need to take it one game at a time, play for each other, and we will stay in contention for a division championship.”
In the Mission Division last week, Greenfield lost 7-3 at North Monterey County and lost by a 6-3 score to Robert Louis Stevenson. Nathaniel Trujillo led the Bruins with two hits and Fabian Gonzales had a run batted in.
Next, the Bruins play at home Thursday against the Pacific Grove Breakers.
Soledad lost two contests in the Gabilan Division, falling 10-0 against Salinas High and 9-7 to St. Francis.
The Aztecs play Wednesday at Carmel and will host Monte Vista Christian on Friday.
