Bosco Tech Knocks Miraleste Out of First in Camino Real

The Miraleste High baseball team’s usually dependable defense failed on Wednesday and the lapses cost the Marauders the game and a share of first place in the Camino Real League.

Miraleste lost to visiting Bosco Tech, 4-1, and fell into second place in the league at 6-3 with three league games remaining.

Miraleste (10-8 overall) beat Bosco, 13-3, on Monday. Bosco (9-6 overall, 5-2 in league play) moved into a tie in the loss column with first-place Serra (7-2 in league), which beat Pius X, 14-6, on Wednesday.

Bosco scored two unearned runs off losing pitcher Joe Carey (4-3) in the first inning with the help of two errors. With one out, Carey hit Pat Marmalejo with a pitch. Marmalejo moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Jerome Najera’s ground ball to first base that went through the infield for an error.

Najera scored on a throwing error after moving to second on a fielder’s choice.

“I though we were a little bit flat in the first inning, normally we play good defense,” Miraleste Coach Ken Russell said.

Carey appeared to be struggling at times, but was able to keep Miraleste in the game.

“He pitched well but his defense failed him,” Russell said.

Offensively, Miraleste did little. Bosco pitcher Jason Armendariz (3-1) scattered five hits and did not allow more than one hit in any inning.

“Their guy pitched an excellent ball game,” Russell said.

The only Miraleste run came after Greg Keese doubled off the right-center-field fence, moved to third on a ground out by Pat Hubbard and scored on a wild pitch. No other Miraleste runner reached third base.

Bosco scored two runs in the sixth, one of them unearned thanks to the Marauders’ fourth error.

Russell refused to be discouraged by the loss.

“I have no doubt how this team will respond, they’re going to play good baseball,” Russell said.

Miraleste continues league play on Saturday at 11 a.m. when it plays host to Verbum Dei.