Belen Jesuit Takes Over Second In 6A-16 With 5-2 Win
Alex Falla circles the bases after tying the game in the second.
Belen Jesuit came into Thursday afternoon’s district match-up with Mater Academy with a 6-4 record. Despite the record, the team’s four losses have been by a combined five runs. With ace Pablo Arevalo on the mound, the Wolverines ensured that they would not endure a fifth tough loss on this day.
Getting to Mater starter Kevin Fuentes early, Belen scored five runs, which was more than enough for Arevalo and reliever Alex Novoa, who combined to give up just six hits in the Wolverines’ 5-2, 6A-16 win.
“We knew we were just a few plays away from being 10-0 coming in here,” said Belen Manager Jerry Albert. “It’s been frustrating, because we are right there, and just had some mistakes that cost us games. Today, we did a good job of getting the lead and then staying the course all game. It was a nice win against an always-tough rival.”
The defending 6A champions jumped on Arevalo for an early lead when the second batter of the game, Tyler Perez, homered to deep right.
After that, Arevalo settled down, allowing only one additional run in five innings of work. Novoa may have been even more impressive, throwing two innings of one-hit ball, and earning the save for the Wolverines.
“They both pitched great,” said Albert. “With Pablo, he gave up the two home runs, but sometimes we have to explain to him that he isn’t always going to be perfect. He is very hard on himself, but today, even with the two home runs, he pitched well. And Alex was fabulous in relief against a good hitting team.”
The Wolverines offense was led by Alex Falla. The junior tied the game at one with a solo home run in the second inning, and was on-base two additional times on walks. The walks were two of the eight base on balls the Wolverines had as a team.
“Usually, with Kevin, you have to be aggressive, because he is around the plate,” said Falla. “In the second, I was watching and he was getting ahead with a lot of fastballs early. Luckily I was able to put a good swing on it. Then, we were patient the rest of the day. It was a strategy that happened to work out.”
After Belen took the lead with two runs in the second, it tacked on one run each in the third, fourth, and sixth. CJ Vazquez was 2-for-4 with a run, and Lorenzo Laurita was 2-for-3, with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk. Overall, it was a balanced attack for the Belen offense, with eight of their nine starters reaching base safely.
Teammates congratulate Tyler Perez after his solo shot in the first.
“I have faith in the guys behind me and our offense,” said Arevalo. “I know they can put up runs, and when they do, like today, it makes things a bit easier on me on the mound.”
The win moves Belen into sole possession of second place in the district, one game behind TERRA. Mater’s loss drops the Lions to third in the district.
“We know this is one of the toughest districts in the county,” said Mater Manager Mike DiRosa. “At the end of the year, the top four teams are going to face each other, and anyone can win those games. All four teams are very well coached. This is a great rivalry; sometimes we win, and sometimes they will. That’s what makes the rivalry great. Today, they played well and just beat us.”
The two teams will head for one more week of games before opening up play in the HSBN March Madness Shootout next Saturday.
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