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Photos: Del Rio beats Corpus Christi Miller in Laredo ISD Hardball Classic

Daniel Crispin had the big blow for Del Rio with a two-run double

Author:
Clara Sandoval
Publish date:
Mar 13, 2022 4:23 PM EDT

LAREDO, Texas - Behind a big second inning Del Rio rolled to an 8-1 win over Corpus Christi Miller on the final day of the Laredo Independent School District Hardball Classic.

“This gave us an opportunity to play a lot of the younger players,” Del Rio head coach Nicolas Mendez said. “We have a pitcher that had been injured - Thomas Gambrel - and he came back after a couple of weeks of back spasms and he threw really well. He kept his pitch count down and we were happy about that.

Del Rio broke loose in the second inning with a steady parade of hits that was ignited by Jon Barragan, who opened the inning with a single. CC Miller was able to get the next two outs and were on the verge of securing the third out when things went downhill quickly.

Daniel Crispin singled to score Barragan and was followed by Juan Guerrero who blasted the ball to the outfield. The ball was misplayed by CC Miller to extend the inning and open the door for more runs.

Del Rio scored a total of five runs in the second inning on just three hits by Barragan, Crispin and M. Mendez.

The Rams continued to dominate with Gambrel on the mound as he did not give the Buccaneers much to work with at the plate. Gambrel finished the game with seven strikeouts and gave up just three hits in five innings.

The Rams tacked on three more runs in the third inning, with the big blow a two-run double by Crispin that scored Gambrel and Mark Soto.

Del Rio only outhit Corpus Christi Miller 4-3, but the Buccaneers committed two costly errors.

“Overall, defensively it was pretty clean. We had one miscue but we were able to outhit them,” Mendez said. "... Overall happy with the defense, happy with the pitching and happy with the opportunity to play these younger players.”

Roland Barron scored the Buccaneers' only run of the game on a single by Mark Martinez. Corpus Christi Miller was able to load the bases with Martinez, Barron and Dominic Soliz but could not capitalize as the Rams induced a ground ball for the final out of the fourth inning.

Gambrel retired the side in order in the final inning to secure the victory. Del Rio is set to start District 30-6A play on Tuesday as they host Laredo LBJ.

“Our district is very, very tough,” Mendez said. “We are in a district with United ISD and Laredo Nixon. Everybody that we play is going to fight every Tuesday and Friday because they are really good teams and we look forward to the challenge."

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