Weather delay doesn't bother the bats at 'Bado; Pueblo Azteca wins off of stellar pitching
BY CHRIS ABDELMALEK | The Pueblo Chieftain | JUN. 25, 2022
Day two of the ‘Bado tournament was underway Friday when once again weather decided it wanted to play as well, but after a weather delay, the Azteca came out on top 12-1 in five innings.
For the second straight night, games were delayed due to inclement weather. However, all the day two games were able to be completed and day three will have adjusted game times due to the possible incoming weather scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
The Pueblo Azteca 18U’s game against Burkburnett stopped midway through the top of the fourth inning and was delayed by almost an hour.
Casillas delivers a pitching gem
Mike Casillas took the mound for the Azteca 18U team and threw three solid innings. He had two strikeouts in the first inning and a ground out as well to make quick work of the top of the lineup for the Blacksocks. He gave up a few singles and a run in the second but also had two more strikeouts. In the third inning of work, Casillas threw another two strikeouts and caused a pop-out to have another clean inning.
“He was in the zone,” coach Dylan Gavin said of his starting pitcher. “He had a heavy fastball; you know, it took a couple of innings to find his slider but as long as it's around the plate, he can work off of it with the fastball. It's a little easier to play defense when you don't have to pick it when he's up there striking people off, so yeah, he looked good tonight.”
The weather delay came at the top of the fourth inning, and that was the end of Casillas’ pitching night, but he stayed in to play defense and was up to bat after the weather delay. At the plate, he went 2-2 with two walks and two stolen bases and scored three runs. This was just a part of the offensive explosion the Aztecas had in this game.
Bustin' runs at the ‘Bado
Jace Barger connects for a hit during the Pueblo Azteca 18-and-under team game against the Burkburnett Blacksox at the Artie Escobado Memorial Tournament on Friday, June 24, 2022.
The Aztecas came out with a bang, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Casillas started things off with a single and a stolen base. Derrick Domenico walked, and a passed ball allowed Casillas to score the first run of the game. Catcher Cody Macias was able to drive in Domenico with an RBI groundout. Jace Barger got on base due to an error and eventually came around to score the third run of the inning on another passed ball.
In the second inning, the Aztecas put up another three runs with some solid hitting. Caton Lodice started it off with a single and would move to second with a sacrifice bunt by Joel Gonzales. Casillas would come up and single and move Lodice to third and then promptly stole second. Domenico would then drive in both runners with a single to add to the lead. After a groundout moved Domenico to third, Macias would single and drive in the third run of the game.
In the third inning, the offense found its groove once again. The first six batters in the inning all reached base and scored a run. Back-to-back doubles from Cade Bleeker and Matt Casillas started the third inning off for the Aztecas. Lodice drew a walk, and Gonzales drove in two more runs. Mike Casillas also drew a walk, and Domenico got a single to load the bases. After a sac fly from Jake Olguin-Pacheco, Macias got a double in the last two runs of the inning.
The score at the end of three innings was 12-1.
With the team up 12-1, it was up to Justin Arellano to come in a seal the deal for the Aztecas.
He nearly had a perfect fourth inning, throwing 10 pitches and landing nine of them for strikes. It was quick and efficient, something the Azteca team needed after a lengthy delay.
The fifth inning was much of the same, and Arellano got a line out, a strikeout, and a runner thrown out at second trying to advance on an error.
The Aztecas keep their hopes of playing on the final day alive once again.
“It was a good quality win," Gavin said, complimenting his team on"playing the game before we knew we had to come out early and kind of set the tone early and put them away. And that's what we did.”
The weather is always a worry when you have a lead, and Gavin was definitely aware of that. Luckily, Arellano was on point.
“We had a big lead going into there, and we just had to make sure we kept that energy that we had all game," Arellano said.
“Coach Potts always talks about pace. Once I get going, I keep my pace up. You know, that's when I feel like I start doing my best,” Arellano said.
Making it to the final day of the tournament will be an uphill battle for the team. They need to win their next two games and hope for some help as well, similar to last week during the ‘Nuch tournament, when the team was 1-1 going into the final day of play.
“We have been in this position before,” Gavin said. “It's definitely doable, we just need to go pitch by pitch (and) don't worry about the second game; worry about the first game. We have a tough opponent, and we saw them last week; they'll be ready to go. They have good arms, they take good at-bats, we have got to be clean defensively and go show them what we have.”
The Aztecas play Victus Recruits at 9 a.m. Saturday at CSU Pueblo and then Bessemer Baseball at 11:30 a.m.
They last played Victus in the championship game of the ‘Nuch a week ago. Arellano echoed his coaches' words on what they need to do to have a chance to play on Sunday.
“We just got to keep our energy high and get our revenge,” Arellano said.
The rest of Friday's action
Victus Recruits won both of their games on Friday to stay atop of the division. They defeated CBA Taylor 7-4 and Bessemer Baseball 8-3. Bercovich 35 Honors had only one game, and they defeated Bessemer 12-4.
Colton Nighthawks went 1-1 on the day with a loss to 4C Prime and a victory over Texas United. United lost both of their games as 4C Prime took the victory earlier in the day against United.
More:Artie Escobado Tournament kicks off in first year as Connie Mack World Series qualifier
Burkburnett also went 1-1 on the day with a loss to the Azteca 18U team and a victory over CBA Taylor. The Azteca 17U suffered another loss in the tournament, this time to Cherry Creek 10-1.
Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at
