Dragons explode for five runs in sixth to nip 3A champs

Del Sol’s baseball team had reason to feel frustrated after it loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning but failed to score Thursday.

So the Dragons took it out on Virgin Valley in the next frame.

Del Sol sent 11 batters to the plate and scored five runs in the sixth to rally for a 7-6 home win over the three-time defending Class 3A state champion Bulldogs.

Dragons coach Brock Taylor sees his team’s resiliency during a 2-1 start as a sign of better things to come. Del Sol struggled to a 4-17 record last season.

“I just said to them, 'You guys are making me so proud,’ because they’re just not fearing anything,” Taylor said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the third inning or the seventh. If we don’t get the job done, we come back. We’re maturing enough to forget the past and move ahead.”

Del Sol’s Brandon Montano scored the go-ahead run when Virgin Valley’s third baseman was unable to field a ball put in play by Diego Robles, one of three errors in the sixth by the Bulldogs (3-3).

“It was good to put it in play this time,” Del Sol catcher David Day said. “We hurt ourselves when we don’t put the ball in play. They made errors and we got the runs.”

Montano keyed the five-run inning with a two-run single to center field.

Day hit a towering solo home run to left in the first inning for the Dragons.

Day, who hit .485 with four homers last season, is the cornerstone of what Taylor thinks will be an improved season for Del Sol.

“He’s a senior and wants to win,” Taylor said. “He wants to end his career with Del Sol winning some big games.”

Robles threw two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win, striking out three of the nine batters he faced.

Taylor said Robles’ role could prove crucial as the Dragons try to replace senior pitcher Justin Chronister, who is out indefinitely with injuries to both shoulders.

“Diego gave us a huge lift today,” Taylor said. “Today’s game gave him a lot of confidence and, with Chronister going down, we need more pitching. He might become our closer.”

Day, one of six returning starters for Del Sol, said the Dragons have benefited from putting in more time during the offseason.

“I feel like we didn’t do as well last year as we should have,” he said. “We have the potential to be really good. I hope we make the playoffs. It would be the first year Del Sol has made the baseball playoffs.”

The Dragons play in the deep Southeast League, but Taylor said obtaining one of the league’s four spots in the Sunrise Region playoffs is something his team can shoot for.

“Our division is probably the toughest top to bottom,” he said. “We may not have the best team in our division, but we’ve got five or six good teams.”

Matt Devore went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for Virgin Valley, and Daniel Gleave doubled twice. Cameron Jensen and Wyett Williams added two hits each for Virgin Valley.