By Corey Kwok
(La Salle) – La Salle will have to postpone clinching this year’s Del Rey league championship…until perhaps Wednesday.
St. Paul pitcher Jared Paderez dealt with authority throwing a complete game to beat the Lancers 8-1 Monday. He served two of every three pitches for strikes (72 strikes, 108 total pitches) while striking out seven and allowing four hits.
Solid defense weren’t his and the Swordsmens’ only benefactors as Aaron Pinto went yard in the third inning for a three run home run before Jorge Zepeda blasted his own shot as well for two more runs and a 5-1 St Paul cushion in the fifth. Both Pinto and Zepeda’s bombs happened with two outs.
The Lancers loaded the bases in the second but dialed in just one run. David Sanchez led off on board via walk followed by a sharp single from Chris Williams before Antonio Ruiz laid down a base hit bunt. Nick Brown flew out long to left and scored Sanchez but Paderez struck out the next hitter to halt the threat. From the fourth inning on, balls that were batted in play under his stewardship cleared the infield only twice.
St. Paul spun off three insurance runs in the seventh to put it out of reach. Kevin Romo stole home on a wild pickle lasting at least 12 exchanges while Cris Garcia carried it by third base and scored Pinto. Ellis Gilmore grounded in the eighth run (Zepeda) to round it all out.
These two teams will meet again at St. Paul this Wednesday to conclude the regular season. La Salle needs a win to capture the Del Rey while St Paul looks to spoil them once again. Shall that happen, Bishop Amat, which concluded league play last week and is fresh off a big 5-4 win over Northern California juggernaut De La Salle Spartans, will inherit and maintain its long-standing status quo reign on the Del Rey.
SP 003 020 3 — 8 10 1
LS 010 000 0 — 1 4 3
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