SALINAS VALLEY — King City High’s baseball team extended their winning streak to nine games with a gritty 7-5 non-divisional comeback victory at home against the Alisal Trojans.
Trailing by as many as four runs, the Mustangs rallied back for five runs in the sixth inning to take the lead. Freshman RJ Ayon delivered the biggest hit of the game with a clutch three-run double and finished with two hits and three RBIs.
Eddie Rangel added two hits and three stolen bases as King City continued to pressure defenses on the basepaths. The Mustangs added an important insurance run in the seventh inning on a key hit from Anthony Manriquez to help secure the win. On the mound, Joaquin Sabala earned the win in relief, while Ernesto Aguirre closed the door for the save.
With the win, the Mustangs (6-0 league, 9-5 overall record) continue to build confidence heading into a big week. King City will face a strong North Salinas team next, looking to keep its momentum going.
“We’ve been emphasizing mental toughness and staying together in tough moments,” said Mustang head coach Gabriel Soto. “Our guys don’t fold, as they trust each other and keep competing. That’s the kind of baseball we want to play, and I’m proud of how they responded.”
Soto is in his first year as the head varsity baseball coach for the Mustang team.
In divisional play last week, the Gonzales Spartans split a home and away series with the Marina Mariners. In the home game last Tuesday, the Spartans edged Marina, 3-2, and lost by a 4-3 score two days later on the road.
In the home win, Noah Villalobos went 2 x 3 in the game, with his last hit being a single and run batted in that allowed Gonzales to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Villalobos earned the pitching victory, allowing four hits and one earned run. Over six innings, he struck out six and walked four.
Moises Castro closed out the game by allowing zero hits, striking out two batters and walking two.
On the road last Thursday, the Mariners tied the ball game in the bottom of the fifth inning and gained the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Gonzales fell behind after a costly error with two outs.
Juan Arriola, Moises Castro, Noah Villalobos, Daniel Jimenez and Dominick Rosas-Rosillo each collected a hit for the Spartans. Castro took the loss as he went four innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on two hits, striking out six and walking five.
Gonzales is 3-3 in league with games against Seaside this week (Tuesday in Seaside and a home game Thursday). Next week, the Spartans will close out the season with a road game and home game against King City.
Soledad High had a busy week with division games against Palma and Hollister. The Aztecs lost by a 1-0 score on the road against the Chieftains and lost 9-8 at home. Soledad closed out the week with a 16-5 setback to the Haybalers.
The Aztecs (2-13 league, 7-13-1 overall record) play Wednesday at Salinas High and will host St. Francis of Watsonville on Friday afternoon.
Greenfield lost 1-0 to Alisal on the road last Thursday and shut out the Watsonville Wildcatz on Saturday by a 5-0 score.
The Bruins (6-7 league, 12-8 overall record) played Tuesday at North Monterey County in Castroville and will host Robert Louis Stevenson on Thursday afternoon.
