Warden continues to dominate the diamond

Cougars extend shutout streak to four

WARDEN — The Cougars excelled in all phases of the game as they brushed aside Highland 18-0 and 10-0 in a doubleheader on a rain-soaked field Saturday.

In the early game, highly regarded pitcher Jorge Reyes turned in another excellent performance, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning before giving up a single that would be Highland's only hit of the game. Reyes struck out 10 batters and walked none in the complete-game performance.

While Warden coach Jerry Powell would have enjoyed seeing a no-hitter from his ace, he was nonetheless pleased with Reyes' outing.

"It was a good pitching performance," Powell said.

Offensively, Warden had its way with the Scots' pitching, jumping out to a 2-0 lead on a Edward Rodriguez triple with no outs in the first inning. After a Josh Guerra RBI groundout made it 3-0, Aaron Pruneda one-hopped a ground-rule double over the left field fence to bring Guerra home and push the score to 4-0.

"Our kids hit the ball," said Powell, "we've got a good hitting team."

Warden would break the game open in the second inning, using aggressive base running and a few clutch hits to score six runs. Kenny Guerra's two-RBI single to right highlighted the inning in which nine Warden batters came to the plate.

The inning ended when Anthony Martinez was tagged out trying to advance to third base on a groundout by Freddy Gutierrez.

"We're gonna be aggressive on the bases until the game is over," Powell said. "If we get thrown out because we're aggressive, that's okay."

Warden tacked on two more runs in the third, as Reyes had an infield single that scored a run and Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the other run.

Leading 12-0 in the bottom of the fourth Juve Salinas put an exclamation point on the Warden victory with a two-run home run to left-center field.

With Warden ahead 18-0, the contest was called in the middle of the fifth inning.

Throughout the first game, Warden's powerful offense dominated the Highland pitching. Highland, like other teams Warden has faced, used the strategy of putting their number two pitcher against Reyes and their top arm against Warden's other pitchers. The strategy, in which the opposing coach hopes to earn a split of the doubleheader, looks good on paper.

On the field, however, Warden pitchers Edward Rodriguez and Rick Castillo have neutralized this strategy by matching Reyes in each of Warden's twin-bills this year.

Saturday, Rodriguez pitched three innings of no-hit ball and Castillo gave up just two singles in the sixth and final inning of the game.

In Saturday's second game, Warden again took an early lead on a two-out rally, capped by an Aaron Pruneda single that scored a pair of runs.

Facing Highland's top pitcher, Warden decided to manufacture some runs in the second inning.

"We weren't doing anything great, so we went to the short game," said Powell. "We had to work to get our 10 runs on this guy."

After Martinez drew a leadoff walk, Rigo Pruneda dropped down a picture-perfect bunt that went for a base hit. Pinch-runner Robert Pruneda moved to second on the play, and Pruneda easily beat the throw to first base.

"He's an excellent bunter," said Powell of Rigo Pruneda.

Later in the inning, Rodriguez and Kenny Guerra took Warden back to the long game, each crushing RBI doubles off the outfield fence. Guerra's hit put the Cougars up 8-0 over Highland.

With two on and two out in the sixth inning, Castillo knocked down a line drive over the mound, grabbed the ball, and made the throw to first in time to end the inning.

In the bottom half of the inning, a Rodriguez line-drive single ricocheted off the Highland third baseman's leg and went into foul territory. Travis Matzen was able to score from second on the play, giving Warden its 10th run of the game and the victory.

"The kids are coming along well," said Powell of his team. "It's a hard working team."

Edward Rodriguez finished the day 5-5 from the plate with seven RBIs, while teammate Kenny Guerra was 7-7 with four doubles and four RBIs.

With the wins, Warden moved to 4-0 on the season. The Cougars have allowed only one hit in each of their four victories. Opponents are yet to score against the Warden defense.