Charbonneau strikes out 12 and Generals bat around in a Six-run fourth inning to subdues Bears
Aldine – Coach Earnest Gonzales doesn’t remember a baseball season like this in his 20 years as the head coach at MacArthur. The Generals hold the top spot with a two game lead over second place Hastings in district 18-5A, with three games remaining. 12 of his 32 years of coaching were with other schools, but the last 20, with the Generals.
“Don’t even ask. I don’t even know how long it’s been, or if the schools’ ever had a season like this. As a matter of fact I don’t know if the school have ever won district in its history. I’ve looked in yearbooks but I’ve not been able to find nothing” Gonzales said, who played against MacArthur in 1966, when the school opened.
What ultimately dash the hopes of the fighting Bears, was a six-run, five hit fourth inning and a sparkling pitching performance from ace Darius Charbonneau to help solidify MacArthur Generals 7-4 defeat of the Hasting Bears Friday night at Lansford Field.
The inning watched the Generals (16-4-2, District 8-1) bat around, and breakup a one all tie, which started with first baseman Jesus Aguilar, who singled up the middle and stole second. Short Stop Rolando Linares drew a walk. DH Raul Alaniz followed with an infield single to left to load the bases. Then, Left fielder Gilbert Hernandez’s laced a 2-run double, making the score 3-1. Gomez, Kevin Briseno and Estaban Garcia concluded the inning with RBIs to help build a 7-1 lead after four innings of play.
“We had a lot of guys come up in key situations and we were looking for the fastball inside middle of the plate in. But I think the big key was we were putting the ball on the ground we worked on the short game.
“We knew it would be a close game because the last time we faced them it was a pitching game. I told the guys at the beginning of the fourth inning, all you guys have had just one at bat it’s going to be one of those games where you have two or three at bats, you cannot waste them. We have to move the ball, manufacture runs then wait for a key hit and we got several in that inning,” said Gonzales.
Charbonneau, who was masterful on the mound, pitched a complete game, with 12 strikeouts, surrendered three hits and a walk, to push his season record to (6-1).
“I give up to the team. We made some errors here and there tonight. But they had my back, making plays behind me. Our team did their job at the plate. They came through for me. My curve ball was a little slow tonight, but I was getting over the plate for strikes,” Charbonneau said.
The Generals scored a run in the bottom of the first inning after Garcia singled up the middle, stole second, moved to third on Aguilar’s groundout to second and scored on Linares sac fly to center. Later, the Bears would even the score, which allowed Hernan Garcia to reach second base after a two base throwing error by Generals second baseman. Meloy then ripped a run scoring single to right field to knot things at one. The inning didn’t look to good for MacArthur, after third baseman, Ricardo Reyna fielded a routine grounder and threw wide left of second base, which left runners safe and the bases loaded. But the brilliance of Charbonneau who struck out Manuel Del Pozo on an off speed pitch and picked off Kevin Molina at first base, to get out of a bases loaded jam.
Hastings coach Chad Needham said, “It was a good game, it’s what we expected. Both teams hit the ball better than the last game which was a 2-1 game. We knew it would be tough; we always face their best pitcher. We gave them a scare at the end with the bases loaded. But we just didn’t get the big hit at the right time in this game.
“We’re still fighting to hang on to second, going into the playoffs. They execute, they got the bunt down, and they moved guys over. Then they got the big hit with runners in scoring position.”
Charbonneau struck-out the side in the top of the fourth.
MacArthur’s third error of the evening was helpful in the Bears trimming the lead to four. Garcia doubled to left, Meloy reached on an error and Molina’s bases clearing triple to the wall in center gave Hastings new life, down 7-3. But a Charbonneau ended yet another Bear threatening inning with a strike out, as Pozo went down swinging.
Opposing pitcher Nate Meloy, who seem to be tiring late, took the loss, as his night concluded after five innings of work. He surrendered 7-hits, two walks and 7-runs. But, had only given up two-hits, and a run before the fourth inning.
Leonardo Moreno who started the game at first base for Hastings came on in relief. He gave two hits and no runs.
In the seventh inning Charbonneau surrendered his first walk to Denis Iveljic. Bosco Rios reached on an error; Garcia struck out, before Meloy got to first on an error to load the bases. Molina’s fielder choice RBI gave Hastings (15-7, District 7-3) its fourth and final run of the game. However, Charbonneau induced his 12th strikeout in retiring Pozo to end the game.
The potential for a couple good seasons to follow looms for MacArthur. With six starters returning for next year, the future is bright. Only catcher Jordan Arce, second baseman Chris Castro and Short Stop Rolando Linares are seniors, and all three are four year lettermen.
