La Quinta’s Patton Is Injured

La Quinta, ranked second in the county in baseball, swept a doubleheader against Sonora, winning 8-1 and 4-1. But Sonora also lost one of its top players to a freak injury Tuesday at La Quinta High.

Early in the first game, Sonora senior Clint Patton, who catches and pitches, fractured his cheek bone. After the top of the first inning, Patton was in the dugout putting on his catcher’s equipment, and was struck in the face with an errant throw.

Last season, Patton hit .346 with three home runs and also was 3-0 with a 0.34 earned-run average.

La Quinta’s Gerald Laird had five hits--including a home run and a double--scored five runs and stole three bases in the two victories. Steve Lee and Willie Keller combined on a five-hitter in the first game for La Quinta (7-0). Brian Cisneros and Jason Garcia allowed only six hits in the 4-1 victory in the second game.

Sonora, the defending Freeway League champion, fell to 1-4.