WATSONVILLE — The host Watsonville Wildcatz held off the Gonzales Spartan baseball team in the final two innings to defeat the visitors 10-9 in a non-league game last Thursday afternoon. The Spartans held a three-run lead after the first inning but the Wildcatz answered with a seven-run rally in the bottom of the second.
Gonzales tied the game in the top of the fifth at 8-8 but Watsonville scored two runs in the bottom the sixth, then limited the Spartans to a lone run in the top of the sixth. Gonzales had the tying run on with no outs in the top of the seventh but would not score another run.
“It was back-and-forth game and Watsonville scored its tenth run on a fielder’s choice to win,” said Gonzales head coach Erik Lopez. “In the top of the seventh we thought we had a chance when we got a runner on with no outs. I thought we had a chance when we came back to tie the game at 8-8.”
Pedro Villacana pitched five innings and gave up eight unearned runs due to errors by the Spartans. Xando Mendez came in to pitch the final two innings. Jesus Mendoza hit a double and Colt Rubbo contributed with a basehit.
At 6-9 overall and 4-7 in the Mission Trail Athletic League the Spartans began an away and home series with the Carmel High Padres yesterday in Carmel and will host the Padres on Friday afternoon.
