Seven-run innings power San Luis past Cibola

Gilberto Jimenez started the monster outburst with a two-run double, and Alejandro Garcia capped it with a two-run single.

In between, eight batters came to the plate and three more scored for the San Luis baseball team in the third inning, allowing the Sidewinders to coast to a 15-7 win at Cibola on Tuesday.

Garcia had two singles in the seven-run third, an inning that let San Luis (8-2, 4-0 Gila Valley Region) take control after falling down 2-0 in the region contest. Cibola starter Martin Chacon allowed six earned runs in that frame and eight in his five innings.

"Chacon was on early, their defense came on from early in the ballgame, but he got the ball up the second time through the lineup," San Luis coach Cesar Castillo said. "We were able to do the things we were practicing the last two weeks."

The Raiders (5-4, 3-2) trailed 8-3 heading into the seventh, when the Sidewinders put up another seven runs on the home team. Jimenez had another two-run double in the inning to cap his 4-for-4 performance, and Juan Martinez had a two-run single to become the last Sidewinder starter with a hit.

Solano came out to pitch the bottom of the seventh and gave up four runs, two earned. Still, Castillo said the complete game was big for the Sidewinders, who face Yuma High today and host Kofa Friday.

"Doing what he did was huge, not needing to use any relief pitchers - especially since we have three games this week," said Castillo of Solano, who allowed five earned runs and nine hits. "I don't know who's starting (today), but he stepped it up for us."

Ryan Nowlin and Chacon had RBIs in the first inning. Nowlin and Krysthian Leal - who scored twice and was 3-for-4 - had the only multihit efforts for the Raiders, who were playing with a smaller roster than in a 4-3 loss to Kofa on Friday due to eligibility issues.

Cibola coach Duane Evans said having 11 players and missing three starters from Friday's game didn't really factor into the loss.

"I don't think we can use that really as an excuse," Evans said. "We had kids out there that have pitched well for us. I don't think defensively we had people in positions where we felt uncomfortable. We went out and just didn't execute early. We scored two runs early and just waited for their big inning. We didn't respond and we had situations where we didn't get it done."

The Raiders could have taken an early lead in the region with a win. Instead, the Sidewinders remain unblemished in region with no other team having less than two region losses. Cibola plays Yuma High on Friday.

"We've got to go approach the game against Yuma High and do everything we can to win that game," Evans said. "We'll worry about the rest of the games as they come along. We lose a 4-3 ballgame or a 15-5 ballgame, it's still a loss. What we have to focus on is getting some wins under our belts and turn things around."

Garcia, Jimenez, Benito Garcia, Juan Gamez, Antonio Mendoza and Fernando Cordova had multihit games for the Sidewinders.

With the San Luis and Kofa playing at a disadvantage from a power point standpoint - both teams are 5A-I while the other region teams are 5A-II, limiting the points available to the Kings and Sidewinders - Castillo said winning the region is important.

"It's always huge when you're in league play," Castillo said. "You don't know what's going to happen in power points. I told these boys if they want to get in, they have to find a way to win the region. Division I is a little tougher to get in. We're not the only ones in that boat, but that's what we're thinking right now."