By Corey Kwok
(El Monte) — In a clash of two archrivals battling each other with a clean first round sweep of Mission Valley League play at stake, Rosemead prevailed in come-from-behind fashion to top Arroyo 5-2 and stay a perfect 5-0 in the MVL.
Both the Panthers and Knights exchanged control during the early going. The Knights struck first, whipping three hits in its half of the opening stanza, including a (Hurtado) RBI single for a 1-0 lead before the Panthers responded in the top of the second with Dominic Correa firing an RBI single for a 1-1 tie.
Arroyo regained the lead as Martinez tripled and scored off a Gutierrez base hit. The Knights pitcher Perez retired 11 consecutive hitters to frustrate and keep the Panthers at bay before a dramatic shift in momentum swayed the Panthers’ way in the late top-6th.
Rosemead was served a quick two outs to start that frame, but aggressively chipped and scrapped away to stay alive, buzzing off two infield singles and a double theft to sit runners on second and third, and set up a clutch hit by Marcus Gomez, who came through huge, hammering a two run single up right-field that put the Panthers ahead for good. Rosemead went on to add two insurance runs in the top of the seventh including an RBI knock from Matthew Campos.
Angel Lopez went the distance, walking one, striking out four, and surviving 10 hits and two runs (both earned) to pick up his second MVL, and season, pitching win.
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