By Ray Keyzers/Garden Grove Journal
Justin Zielinski pitched a masterful three-hitter, striking out 12 batters, to lead Rancho Alamitos to a 2-0 victory victory over the LaQuinta Aztecs in Garden Grove League action Thursday.
La Quinta was its own worst enemy by committing four errors leading to two unearned runs.
The loss dropped LQ to 4-1, good for a tie for first place with Rancho and Garden Grove.
It was 0-0 for the first two innings, but in the bottom of the third with one out, Kory Weeks hits a double to right center, then steals third.
The next batter Robert Bowers, walks with runners on first and third. Brandon Moss grounds out to second, with the runners holding. But with two outs Cheyne Harris was safe on a error by the the second baseman,with Kory Weeks scoring the first run.
The next batter, Jordan Damasco, grounded out to Michael Hill to end the inning.
The closest the Aztecs came to scoring was in the first inning when with two outs Hill singled to center. The next batter, Joel Johnson, singled with Hill going to third. Then Joel Thomas stole second But with with runners on second and third, Mike Thomas struck out to end the inning.
Rancho Alamitos got only two hits in the whole game; who knows we still might be playing if it wasn’t for the errors. Victor Guadalupe pitched a terrific game, yielding just one hit in four innings.
Michael Hill came in the top of the fifth and gave up a hit to Kory Weeks who got the only two hits for Rancho in the game, with the second run scored on an error in the fifth.
This was simply a game which La Quinta gave away. The game was a pitching duel between
Justin Zielinski and Victor Guadalupe, with Michael Hill closing it out.
La Quinta opens the Anaheim Lions Tournment Saturday.
In other GGL action Thursday, Garden Grove edged Santiago 6-5 and Los Amigos defeated Bolsa Grande 13-7.
In the Empire League, Pacifica beat Valencia 6-0 to remain in second place. In the Orange League, Magnolia edged Century 4-3 while Western was overpowered by Anaheim 11-6. Action in the Golden West League saw Westminster defeat Orange 7-3.
