What kept it interesting was that head coach Anthony Gilich got to practically empty his bench.

The Central Vaqueros posted thirteen hits including three homeruns while using almost the entire team for a shortened seven inning 21-2 win at Phoenix College Saturday. That's 29 runs in the first two games to open up the 2016 season.

Unhittable strike three from George Castillo

The Vaqueros led 8-0 after two innings from a couple of gifts from the Bears, one of them a four base two-error play when Andrew Chartrand bounced one to the pitcher with men on first and second who threw the ball into left field attempting the force at third.  Chartrand hustled and hustled and scored when the Bears relay throw skipped by the catcher. 

"He's our fastest runner" said Gilich. Chartrand entered the game replacing starting centerfielder Ernie de la Trinidad who was hit in the cheek on the game's second pitch. Ernie wobbled out of the box bleeding a lot and was escorted to the hospital where he was stitched up and will miss at least a week.

"I think they gave him about thirty stitches inside and out, but no concussion, he'll be okay."

Brendan Turcotte, Makoa Rosario, and Mitchell Robinson all hit homeruns for the Vaqueros, each to left field. Robinson scored four runs, Turcotte and Chartrand each scored three. Four ribs apiece for Rosario and Robinson.

What a nice story so far for Rosario, a redshirt last year who wasn't even sure he would make it back this year. But for hustle and determination over the summer and winter, he could have easily been working at Carl's Jr.

"Remarkable" said Gilich.

George Castillo threw the planned four innings striking out seven, even though it took an inning or two to get the bender groovin'. Your day is done when #25 is on the mound with an eight run lead. You turn into damage-control mode at that point, which didn't work for the Bears either.

Central brought in Grant Townsend, Kyle Atkinson, and Brent Gibbs for some look-see and Gibbs thank you very much-please-take-a-seat-sir'ed two of his three.

Stat of the day: The Vaqueros walked twelve times. Brilliant.

DB9

-Blade