Dos Pueblos starting pitcher Luke Loggins got the 21 outs he needed to win while facing just 23 batters.
Luke Loggins continued to outdo?himself on Tuesday, pitching a complete-game shutout to beat Buena, the second-place team in the Channel League, 1-0 and guarantee Dos Pueblos at least a share of the title.
“We’re happy, but we’re not satisfied,” head coach Nate Mendoza said, stating his team’s intentions to win the league outright.
Loggins gave up three hits and threw just one strikeout, but did not walk a batter. He faced only 23 batters on the day and made quick work of all the Buena hitters.
“He just kept them off balance the whole entire game,” Mendoza said. “His best game for sure.”
The game’s only run came in the second inning. Anthony Spiritosanto showed off his speed by beating out the throw for an infield single to give the Chargers a baserunner. He then stole second and advanced to third after a single to right field from Dylan Rohde.
“Anthony’s one of the fastest guys on our team, probably one of the fastest guys in the league,” Mendoza said.
With runners at the corners and one out, Spiritosanto?continued to wreak havoc on the base-path. Rohde went to steal second base, and Spiritosanto took off for home immediately after Buena’s catcher made the throw across the infield. The Bulldog’s attempt to get the ball back to home was a split-second too late to tag out the speedy Spiritosanto.
Spiritosanto finished the day going 2-for-3 from the plate with two base-hits, while Nolan Soto recorded an identical stat-line.
One run was all the Chargers needed with Loggins on the mound. In the biggest game of Dos Pueblos’ season so far, he was at the top of his game and shut down Buena for the remainder of the day.
The Chargers (18-7 overall, 8-2 CL) will play Buena away on Thursday, and a victory would give them sole possession of the league title.
LINE SCORE:
Buena? 000 000 0?0 3 0
Dos Pueblos? 010 000 0?1 7 1
Horigan and Coker; Loggins and Huthsing. W?Loggins (9-2) L?Horigan (n/a)
