Hondo Anvil Herald

Owls’ dominant wins keep team in the hunt

 

     The bats broke out of their recent funk in a big way on Thursday, April 2. Hondo pounded out what’s very likely a school record 33 base hits in a 29-1 run-rule rout of Cotulla in District 28-3A play.

     On Tuesday, April 7, the Owls began play in the second half of the district schedule with a another five-inning home win, this one over Dilley, 12-0.

     This week, Hondo (17-5-2 season, 6-1 district) will go on the road twice, visiting Crystal City in a 4:30/7:00 JV-varsity doubleheader on Friday, followed by 4:30/7:00 matchups on Tuesday at league-leading Lytle.

     At Cotulla, the Owls scored five times in the first inning, then added 16 in the second.

     Four Owls had four-hit nights, with Kolten Alvarez going one better on a 5-for-6 effort with four runs batted in. Rudy Alvarado was 4-for-6 with seven RBI, Josiah Quintanilla was 4-for-6 with three driven in, while Joby Pimentel and Anthony Garza were both 4-for-5, driving home three. Layton Pope and Mason Barr both had three hits, while Chris DeLuna and Jack Gruber both had two.

The Owls’ pitching-by-committee effort allowed five Cowboy hits, with Derek Elizondo working two innings, followed by two from Garza and one from Quintanilla.

     Tuesday evening, the Owls scored in every at-bat to get to their 12-0 win.

     Meanwhile, Elizondo worked the first four innings on the mound, allowing only one baserunner, a leadoff single in the fourth. 

In the first inning, Barr’s bloop single to right was the Owls’ only hit, but two walks, a wild pitch, a passed ball and an error turned into three runs.

     With Alvarez drawing a leadoff walk in the second, Gruber connected for a one-out single, before Quintanilla drove both runners home. He then scored on an error.

     Up 6-0 after two, the Owls added two more on a two-out rally in the third. Joby Pimentel doubled to left and Alvarez reached on an error. Both came home when Anthony Garza’s ground ball was booted into right field.

     The Owls closed out the scoring with four in the fourth. Quintanilla and Barr both singled and Alvarado was hit by a pitch. Jaxson Williams singled home two runs and Pimentel’s sac-fly made it 11-0. Alvarez reached base on a fielder;s choice, and Garza doubled him home.