Patriots overcome 4-run deficit to KC

GALLUP

Patience at the plate benefited the Miyamura baseball team on Saturday afternoon.

The Patriots were facing a four-run deficit heading into the bottom of the sixth, but aided by three walks and two hit batters, Miyamura scored five runs to upend Kirtland Central, 5-4.

“We’ve been here before and we know how to come back on teams,” first-year Miyamura coach Emilio Griego said.

The Patriots were outhit 11-to-5, but those sixth-inning freebies turned the tide as Miyamura improved to 7-12 overall, and 2-1 in district play.

“We had six more outs to go, so we had to make the most of it,” centerfielder Isaiah Martinez said. “We just tried to keep good energy in the dugout and it’s good to keep everybody up.”

After taking over the lead, the Patriots finished the contest with three consecutive outs to complete the comeback win.

“When you rally like that, it’s hard to stay down,” Martinez said. “You’re excited, and so everybody was out there ready to make a play and get the win.”

Martinez got the rally going with a double in left field and he was substituted out with courtesy runner Tee-Jay Jimenez.

Two batters later, first baseman Dominick Ward hit a line drive to right for a single and scored Jimenez.

A hit pitch advanced Ward to second and on the following play right fielder Ethan Joines got on base with an error to load the bases.

While working on the next batter, KC starting pitcher Levon Begay attempted to pick off Joines at first but that play went awry as the ball went pass the first baseman with Ward scoring.

That error pulled the Patriots within 4-2.

Things didn’t get any better for the visiting Broncos as they gave up three more runs, two unearned with a bases-loaded hit pitch and a walk, sending runners home.

“All the credit goes to Miyamura,” KC coach Isaiah Valdez said. “That’s a very tough team over there and the coach got his kids playing very well, but we shot ourselves in the foot.

“We were one pitch away from a double play but, you know, we walked a few runners and that is something we can control,” he said. “We then tried to pick off, and we threw it away and that alone put runners at second and third.”

Needing one more out, Valdez switched out pitchers but his reliever could not find the strike zone as he walked three.

“Like I said, its things that we can control and we’re not controlling them,” he said. “You know, that’s a product of me coaching. I’m in my first year and I’ll take ownership for that 100 percent.

“We got to teach them, but there’s a difference between wanting to win a game and winning a game,” he added. “We got to get that mentality that we’re here to win the game and not just be a part of it. Again, give credit to Miyamura, they played well.”

After two scoreless innings, the Valdez-coached team started the top of the third with four consecutive singles from right outfielder Rutherford Becenti, DH Osai Garcia, shortstop Troy King and third baseman Tyler Beach with the latter Bronco sending Becenti home.

Following a fielder’s choice, the Broncos plated three more runs for a 4-0 lead, highlighted by a two-run single from catcher Alijah Etcitty.

“Early on, we hit the ball really well,” Valdez said. “We jumped on them quick, and we got up 4-0, but we gotta think about how many runners we left out there.”

All told, the Broncos stranded six, including a bases-loaded fifth with two outs.

“If we put the bat on the all, we’re going to score,” the KC coach said. “And with the bases loaded, the biggest frustrating thing is we come away with nothing.”

The loss puts the Broncos at 1-2 in district play, having come up short to Shiprock 9-8 on Thursday in a game that went eight innings.

The latest setback is one of four games the Broncos have lost by a run.

“We just got to learn how to finish,” he said. “It’s a mental thing and we’re not there yet. We’ll get there soon, and it’s part of the cultural change we’re trying to do here.”

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