Anzar limited to three hits in 8-1 loss to King City
San Juan Bautista – Anzar saw what was probably its toughest opposing pitcher of the season Wednesday and the Hawks failed to get going offensively in an 8-1 loss to King City.
Mustangs senior Shane O’Conner baffled Anzar over his five innings of work, striking out eight and allowing only a leadoff single in the fifth. The only runners to advance to scoring position against him came when two Hawks reached on errors in the second.
“(O’Conner) was coming right after us,” Anzar coach Andrew Barragan said. “He’s probably the first pitcher we’ve faced that’s come right after us.”
Anzar (4-6-1, 2-3 Mission Trail Athletic League) was done in by some costly mistakes, which led to some early runs. King City scored twice in the first, the second run coming when O’Conner reached on an error.
In the second, three walks helped the Mustangs score two more runs without the benefit of a hit. Nathan Beach drove in a run on a bases loaded RBI groundout and Aaron Gomez followed with a sacrifice fly.
“The walks were killing us,” Barragan said. “And they were manufacturing runs out there.”
Mark Chavez’s second double of the day highlighted a three-run rally in the fourth inning and King City added another run in the fifth.
Scott Benson broke up O’Conner’s no-hit bid when he led off the fifth inning with a single. He was doubled up on a liner to right field and the Mustangs got out of the inning.
Paolo Marra-Biggs reached in the sixth on a single and stole second, but reliever Jimmy Barbree retired the next two batters.
Anzar finally got on the board in the seventh. Benson crushed a leadoff double to centerfield. King City made a move to second and Benson took off for third. The throw went off Benson’s helmet and he raced home to prevent the shutout.
While the Hawks are young, Barragan is hoping the program can grow and develop.
“We’re going to run a nice long summer camp and hopefully draw some players from that,” Barragan said. “We got a good core of players with younger brother coming up that I’d like to learn my system.”
King City 220 310 0 – 8 8 3
Anzar 000 000 1 – 1 3 4
O’Conner, Barbree (6), Donham (7) and Beach. Benson, M. Marra-Biggs and McKinney. WP – O’Conner, LP – Benson.
2B – Chavez (KC) 2, Peralta (KC), Benson (A).
