Aguayo leads La Mirada's hit parade
La Mirada shortstop Aiden Aguayo has a simple approach at the plate.
“Hit the ball over the second baseman's head,” Aguayo said.
Aguayo's approach propelled the La Mirada baseball team to a 14-1 Gateway League win over Warren on Thursday to help the Matadores stay unbeaten in league play.
Aguayo went 3 for 4 with a walk, coming just a double short of hitting for the cycle. He drove home in runs and scored three runs in the process.
La Mirada coach Jimmy Zurn complimented Aguayo's skills with the bat.
“He's just a special kid,” Zurn said. “He is aggressive in the zone; he knows what he's looking for and he doesn't chase a whole lot. He's got sneaky pop. He's going to UCLA for a reason. He is an all-around great player.”
In addition to Aguayo, many of La Mirada's hitters had a good day at the plate, including Ben Kim, who went 2 for 4 with two runs batted in, and Aidan Haller, who went 3 for 4 and scored three runs.
Walker Calvo earned the win, pitching four shutout
Teammates greet La Mirada's Aiden Aguayo (22) at the plate after his third-inning home run against Warren in Thursday's Gateway League game.
innings and allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out three. Carson Flores pitched the final three innings surrendering two hits and hitting two batters while allowing a run.
La Mirada started hot at the plate and never cooled down. A first-inning, oneout triple by Aguayo set the table for the Matadores. Aguayo scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning,
Kim drove home Maverek Russel with a one-out double. Two batters later, Jonah Rouwenhorst drove in Kim with a double of his own to bring the score to 3-0 with just one out in the first inning.
The Matadores tacked on three more runs in the top of the second inning. The first came on an RBI single by Aguayo. After another single by Russell and a double
steal, Kim drove home Aguayo on a sacrifice fly to bring the score to 5-0. An Eric Jeon single then drove in Russell to double the La Mirada lead to 6-0.
The hit parade continued in the third inning, highlighted by Aguayo's towering two-run home run along the left field line to increase La Mirada's lead to 8-0.
The Matadores capped off their offensive outburst in the seventh inning with a line-drive solo home run to right by Noah Rodriguez to bring the score to 14-0.
Warren found the scoreboard in the final inning. First, Randy Arcos singled to left field. Then Flores hit Angel Orozco with a pitch. Israel Espinoza followed with a single to center field to load the bases with two outs. Flores then hit Branden Lepe with a pitch to force home Warren's only run of the game to bring the score to 14-1.
Jayden Lujan, Julian Angulo, Randy Arcos and Israel Espinoza had Warren's hits, all singles. Branden Lepe had the team's only RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the final inning. Lujan also pitched Warren's only shutout inning.
Warren coach Scott Pearson was impressed with Lujan's performance as a freshman.
“He competes,” Pearson said. “He's also our left fielder and he's having a great year. He just goes out there and competes and that's all we ask.”
Pearson was also very impressed with La Mirada's relentless play.
“They're just so well coached and everyone pays attention to details and they are so locked in,” Pearson said. “They're tough, they're gritty, they believe in themselves and they just have that aura about them. They are a really good team and a fun team to watch, they battle at the plate even with two strikes. I even enjoy watching them play.”