Better performance but 'Stangs drop to 0-2

Certainly, there were steps in the right direction.

However, a couple of bad habits remain in the early going of 2019.

Mullen’s 7-3 home setback to defending Class 4A state champion Holy Family on Monday at Santo “Doc” Scavuzzo Field was an improvement from the season opener at Chatfield. The Mustangs, now 0-2, received better pitching and much-better hitting, but their defense gave up five miscues that changed the tone of the game, particularly early.

“Our Achilles’ heel last year was we would get down early and we got down early (again), and that changes the whole game plan,” Mustangs head coach Alan Colglazier said.

True. Mullen was tapped for two runs in the first inning and four more in a lengthy third, aided by three of its errors. Booting balls, he added, especially when senior pitcher Marissa Sanchez was keeping the ball down and throwing grounders, proved killer.

“We just need to be better defensively,” Colglazier said. “Our bats are going to get better. But we have to make the plays. You can’t give away extra outs.”

Still, the Mustangs came away feeling better than when they fell in their opener and managed to hit only one ball to the outfield.

Sanchez, for example, didn’t get discouraged and pitched well enough to keep her team in the game.

“We have to support her and she did a good job,” Colglazier said.

Cleanup hitter Maggie Bertsch doubled, singled and scored twice. Shortstop Bella Hawkins drove home a run and made a sparkling play deep in the hole. Sanchez also singed and walked. Right fielder Lucia Hurtado had two run-scoring singles. And No. 9 hitter Bella Aragon walked twice.

“It doesn’t get any easier,” Colglazier said, pointing to his team heading to always good Erie for a tournament that begins on Thursday. “We either toughen up or we don’t.”

But the difficult schedule he devised will pay dividends, he said, and he remains confident about his group.

“I’m optimistic because of these kids,” he said. “These kids are capable.”

 

Holy Family – Martinez cf 3-2-1-1, Eldredge 2b 3-1-3-0, Whitlock lf 4-1-0-0, Kuszak 3b 4-1-1-1, Edwards c 4-0-2-1, Deau cr 0-0-0-0, Gardon ss 3-1-1-0, Pfenning 1b 4-0-0-0, Chvatal p 4-0-1-0, Giron cr 0-0-0-0, Manzanares rf 2-1-1-0, Garcia rf 1-0-0-0. Totals 32-7-10-3.

Mullen – DiGiacomo 2b 3-0-0-0, Panozzo c 3-0-0-0, Sanchez p 3-0-1-0, Medina cr 0-0-0-0, Encinias cr 0-1-0-0, Mag. Bertsch 3b 3-2-2-0, Hawkins ss 3-0-0-1, Mad. Bertsch lf 3-0-0-0, Hurtado rf 3-0-2-2, Brady 1b 3-0-0-0, Aragon cf 1-0-0-0. Totals 25-3-5-3.

E – DiGiacomo, Mag. Bertsch 2, Hurtado, Hawkins. SAC – Eldredge. DP – Mullen. SB – Eldredge2. Caught stealing – Kuszak.

2B – Edwards. 3B – Manzanares.

Batteries – Chvatal and Edwards; Sanchez and Panozzo. W – Chvatal. L – Sanchez (0-2). WP – Sanchez 2. PB – Edwards, Panozzo. T – 2:01.