by MARK CAUL
Cesar Ornalas and his Lehman baseball teammates captured their first district with a 7-4 victory over Del Valle Friday night. (Photo by Judy Cooper)
After struggling during much of their pre-district schedule and suffering from various defensive breakdowns that carried over to the start of the 17-4A season, the Lehman baseball team was more than ready to get their first win on the road in Del Valle on Friday night.
Senior outfielder JP Flores drove in three runs and starting pitcher Orlando Banda pitched four innings of one-hit ball to help lead the Lehman baseball team past Del Valle 7-4 Friday night at Cardinal Stadium.
The win improved Lehman’s District 17-4A mark to 1-2.
“It was something our kids have worked hard for so I’m glad we were finally able to get into the win column,” Lehman head coach Toby Robinson said. “Orlando was outstanding tonight and our defense was solid, too.”
The Lobos got on the board early as Justin Vajgert singled in Nick Cerda to give the Lobos a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first.
Lehman’s lead ballooned to 4-0 as Flores and Chris Tello each had run-scoring singles in the third inning.
“I think everything was clicking for us at the same time tonight,” Flores said. “We came out ready to play.”
Del Valle (8-9, 2-2) answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the fourth to close within 4-1, but the Lobos responded with two more in the fifth as Rudy Martinez singled up the middle to plate Cesar Ornelas and give Lehman a 6-2 cushion.
The Lehman defense turned in its best performance of the season, committing only a single error in the win.
“When we hit and don’t give the other teams second chances to score we can be a really good team,” said Robinson. “And we showed that tonight.”
The Cardinals were able to trim the margin to 6-4 when Daniel Reyes delivered a run-scoring double in the fifth and Larry-Rene Gonzales singling in Adrian Gaitan in the sixth.
Banda (1-2) went four innings, only allowing one run and surrendering only three hits while walking five and striking out four.
Flores and Cerda each had a pair of hits to lead Lehman (4-11-1, 1-2).
After a road game with Elgin, Lehman will host cross-town rival Hays on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in its second home game of the season at Lobo Field.
“Our guys always look forward to playing Hays,” Robinson said. “It’s not hard to get them motivated to play against guys they see around town.”
Abeita agreed that a win over the Rebels would go a long way in establishing Lehman as a playoff contender.
“We know if we want to make the playoffs, they are one of the teams we have to beat,” Abeita said. “We will be ready to go.”
