Along the Pecos League Trail
by Bruce Baskin
Published on July 11, 2023 under Pecos League (Pecos)
San Rafael reeled off five consecutive wins last week to tighten their grip on first place in the Pacific Division, including Saturday's 12-1 pasting over Dublin at home. Alex Valasek tossed seven innings of one-run ball to raise his season record for the Pacifics to 6-1 with a 1.32 ERA, leading trhe division in wins and ERA. The Michigan native helped himself at the plate with three singles, driving in two runs. Ashanti Ross singled in Josue Rivera with the last-place Leprechauns' lone score.
Monterey and Bakersfield are second and third, respectively. The Amberjacks lost ground Saturday with a 9-4 home loss to Martinez at Sollecito Park while farther south, the Train Robbers were holding off Lancaster, 18-11. Sadler Goodwin homered and picked up the save for Bakersfield as Andrew Castano singled, doubled, scored twice and drove in a run for the Sound Breakers.
Sunday's Pacific Division All-Star Game in Martinez was won by the North, 10-8, over a shorthanded South team. Vallejo's Ike Brown won the Home Run Derby while Martinez manager Matthew Repplinger beat out Marysville skipper Bill Rogan in the Coaches Fungo Challenge. The Mountain Division All-Star tilt is slated for next Sunday at 6PM in Alpine's Kokernot Field. Tickets are $10 each; in comparison, the average MLB All-Star ducat this week in Seattle costs $639.
In the Mountain Division, Tucson finally hit a tough stretch on the road with a pair of midweek losses at surging Garden City, including last Thursday's 5-3 loss in Kansas as the Wind's Cole Lee belted a solo homer and singled in another run to support starter Matt Ambrosino's strong seven innings. Both Saguaros weekend games in Blackwell were rained out.
Trinidad moved past Roswell into second by winning five of their last six games, including Sunday's doubleheader home sweep over tailenders Austin. Triggers starter Alec Aleywine allowed one run in seven innings while cracking two doubles at the plate in an 11-1 win while Jakobe Smith homered and drove in three runs in Trinidad's 12-7 nightcap triumph. Aleywine, an infielder when he's not on the mound, is 4-2 after seven starts and sports a .397 batting average. Markus Bracey cracked two doubles and scored three runs for Austin in the second game.
Roswell had an important 14-8 win Sunday at Joe Bauman Stadium over Garden City as Jaden Burns and Seth Schroeder combined for five hits and six RBIs for the defending champions.
PACIFIC DIVISION STANDINGS (through Sunday, July 9): San Rafael 25-7, Monterey 23-12, Bakersfield 21-11, Lancaster 18-14, Martinez 18-15, Marysville 17-17, Vallejo 7-25, Dublin 3-30.
Pecos League Stories from July 11, 2023
- Along the Pecos League Trail - OSC Original by Bruce Baskin
- Along the Pecos League Trail - OSC Original by Bruce Baskin
- Along the Pecos League Trail - OSC Original by Bruce Baskin
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