No. 1 Canyon Ends Losing Streak at Two Games

Being ranked No. 1 in baseball has been an early burden for county teams.

Santa Margarita began the season on top, but stumbled twice in the Loara Tournament. Canyon, the tournament winner, inherited the position this week and promptly lost a Tuesday doubleheader to Esperanza.

The Comanches came uncomfortably close to making it three straight losses before pulling out a 9-8 victory over Villa Park in their Century League opener Friday at Canyon.

Catcher Thomas Duarte’s one-out home run in the bottom of the seventh, his fourth, got Canyon (6-2, 1-0) the victory.

“There’s no better feeling than hitting a game-winning homer,” said Duarte, who had three hits and three runs batted in.

The 370-foot drive to right-center also ended a long and frustrating day for both teams.

The Comanches’ leading pitcher, Brian Marmolejo, gave up five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. The Spartans also received gift runs on a balk and a dropped pop fly.

It may explain the lengthy discourse Canyon received from Coach Mike Najera and staff after the game.

“We played sloppy today,” Najera said. “We have to learn that things are not going to come easy because we won the Loara Tournament. They will be tougher, because everyone in league will be shooting for us.”

On the other hand, Villa Park is learning how to win.

The Spartans (2-5, 0-1) staked pitcher Rob McConchie to leads of 5-2, 7-5 and 8-7. McConchie went as long as he could, (124 pitches in five innings), giving up 10 hits and seven runs (four earned). He struck out eight and walked six.

But his relievers could not hold Canyon back. Brian Kunisch gave up a game-tying, two-out pinch home run to Jeremy Martin in the sixth, and Brandon Averill (0-2) gave up Duarte’s game-winner.

Todd Rigby (1-1), the third Canyon pitcher, who entered in the seventh, was the winner.