Covina’s Declan Bowers (6) reacts after reaching second base safely on a double in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
WEST COVINA — The Covina baseball team left little in doubt Wednesday afternoon in its Valle Vista League game against West Covina.
The Colts’ small-ball approach yielded huge dividends as they secured a 13-3 win over the Bulldogs in the first game of a two-game league series.
Covina pitcher Diego Lopez (2) makes a pitch in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Covina’s Ricky Alvarez (16) dives back to first base safely under the tag of first baseman Jacob Nguyen (24) in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Covina shortstop Brandon Chavez (3) receives the ball as a West Covina’s Garrett Mori (44) attempts to steal second base in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina shortstop Austin Nguyen (5) fields the ball and throws the runner out at first base as they play Covina in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina pitcher Edwin Segovia (12) makes a pitch aa they play Covina in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina’s Jesse Martinez (6) receives the late ball as Covina’s Ryan Silva (11) steals second base in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Covina’s Declan Bowers (6) reacts after reaching second base safely on a double in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina pitcher Edwin Segovia (12) makes a pitch aa they play Covina in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina shortstop Austin Nguyen (5) fields the ball and throws the runner out at first base as they play Covina in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Covina’s Declan Bowers (6) reaches second base safely on a double as West Covina;s Jesse Martinez (6) receives the ball in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Covina shortstop Brandon Chavez (3) receives the ball as a West Covina runner tries to steal second base in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Covina’s Declan Bowers (6) reacts after reaching second base safely on a double in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina shortstop Austin Nguyen (5) fields the ball and throws the runner out at first base as they play Covina in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Covina pitcher Diego Lopez (2) tries to look through his hat as he finishes his pitch in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Covina pitcher Diego Lopez (2) reacts after a pitch in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina’s Edwin Segovia (12) reacts after hitting a double as they play Covina in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Friday March 15, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Covina’s success stemmed from extended at-bats and aggressive base running. The Colts (9-6-1, 2-1) loaded the bases in three of the first four innings, drew 10 total walks and stole six bases.
The Colts’ relentlessness at the plate and long innings forced West Covina starting pitcher Edwin Segovia come up just one pitch short of the max pitch total (105) through just 3⅔ innings.
“Our plan today was to grind out at-bats,” Covina head coach Tim O’Leary said. “We looked at (Segovia’s) stats … and he struck out 16 guys, but he also walked 16 guys. Our plan was to get him out of the game as quick as possible. Our kids followed through on the approach and it paid dividends.”
Covina cashed in on its proliferation of base runners in the first and fourth innings, scoring three runs in each inning.
In the opening frame, the Colts scored three runs on three hits. Donovan Johnson drove in the first run with a one-out single. Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Delcan Bowers brought in the second run via a sacrifice fly.
During the next at-bat, Segovia committed one of the Colts’ three errors on a throw to third, punctuating the disastrous first inning. His throw sailed over the head of third baseman Maximilian Murillo, scoring the third run of the inning.
Two innings later, Segovia loaded the bases by walking two batters and giving up a base hit. Segovia walked in a run to give the Colts a 4-0 lead and ending his outing.
The Bulldogs righty gave up four earned runs on five hits and walked five batters.
Covina added two more runs before the end of the inning. An RBI single by Bowers, who finished 1 for 2 with two RBIs, and a Ryan Sarver walk gave the Colts a 6-0 lead.
“We fell behind in (pitch) counts,” West Covina coach Steven Jimenez said of his team’s pitching struggles in the first three innings. “We have to throw more strikes. All of our success has relied on our pitching and today we didn’t get a good effort. Our ball-to-strike ratio was off.”
The Bulldogs (7-3-1, 2-1) struggled at the plate when the game was in contention.
West Covina failed to make Covina starter Diego Lopez work like the Colts made its staff work. Lopez pitched four innings and earned his first win of the season. He gave up one earned run on four hits and struck out four.
West Covina’s first run came in the bottom of the inning after Segovia, who finished 2 for 3, scored from second. He reached base on a one-out double before Garrett Mori drove him in with a single.
After a four-run fifth inning by Covina, West Covina’s leadoff hitter Jacob Nugyen cut into the Colts’ lead with a two-run home run in the fifth inning.
The Colts added three runs and ended the game in six innings.
The Colts will be at home Friday afternoon against West Covina.
