By Michael Meraz
Matt Clark tags out the runner at third base in the sixth inning of the Tigers loss to Saddleback. (Justin Henderson)
By Michael Meraz
The great author Homer once said that “revenge is far sweeter than honey”, this century old saying still proved true at the Evans Sports Complex as the Tigers faced off against the Cuesta Cougars in a three game series on Feb. 23, 24, and 25.
With the Tigers’ No. 1 preseason ranking in all of Southern California, it seems that every team they face will be gunning for them throughout the season.
In the first game of the series, the Cuesta Cougars seemed up to the challenge of facing one of the best teams in all of Southern California after dropping the Tigers in an 8-4 victory that ended in the tenth inning.
However, after losing a tough game to the Cougars the previous day, the Tigers proved why they are indeed still one of the top teams in the land by blasting Cuesta 11-0 in the Saturday game.
The Tigers jumped on top of the Cougars early in the first inning earning a three run lead, and never looked back.
The Tigers seemed to have dominated the game from the very beginning with first earned runs in the first two innings.
The team also received an all-around solid effort from their starting pitcher Reyes Dorado. Dorado scattered three hits through seven, while striking out four. Closing out the game nicely were Bryant Johnson and Jonathan Hyde, allowing only one hit through two innings.
It was an all around great outing by the pitching crew of the Tigers.
The Tigers bats also proved to be too heavy for the Cougars.
The game seemed to be out of reach for Cuesta when Rene Escobar and Jeff Newman had key RBI’s in the sixth inning that left the game at 7-0.
Escobar and Newman each led the Tigers both going 4-6 with a combined 3 RBI’s.
Escobar is one of the team leaders in hitting with a whopping .426 batting average, a .750 slugging percentage, and 26 RBI’s throughout 17 games.
With all around solid play from all of its starters, the Tiger defense also had an outstanding day, committing no errors throughout the entire game, as opposed to Cuesta’s four.
In the rubber game of the series, the Tigers once again took care of business and closed out the three game series with a 6-4 victory over the Cougars, despite a late surge by Cuesta.
The Tigers continued their hitting borage with 13 hits throughout the third and final game. Anthony Morel led the team with four hits.
