Although looking to snap a four-game losing streak, which began last Thursday against the Garden City Wind, Iola Hormigas coach Derrick Dominguez believes his team is playing its best baseball.
The expansion Hormigas seemed the Pecos League doormat early on but as they found their footing they seem more formidable than opponents give them credit as they nearly knocked off the Blackwell Flycatchers Sunday in a 10-8 loss.
“I feel great. It’s the end of the season and I am very proud of these guys,” Dominguez said. “We have eight games left. We went out to Garden City and competed all three games. We came out here and competed again tonight. I’m proud of these guys for staying motivated.”
Iola jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the opening frame on a homer by outfielder Miguel Tejada Jr. and an RBI by second baseman Colin Sepulveda, who ended the night tied for the team lead in RBIs with two each. Starter Jesus Audeves weathered an early storm from the Flycatchers before settling in to tallying a team-leading six strikeouts before handing over the reins to reliever Jacob Strobel in the sixth inning. That is where the Hormigas fell apart. Although Strobel held his own with a pair of strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings, he also allowed three runs and the Hormigas failed to score despite ending multiple innings with the bases loaded.
“We have to do better with runners in scoring position,” Dominguez said. “We’re eying the ball with runners in scoring position and we fall short. For the most part, our pitchers are going out and giving us a chance to win. They’re keeping us in the ballgame.”
The Hormigas added to their lead in the fifth inning with a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly by outfielder Xander Nabors and an RBI single by Audeves, but a five-run Blackwell sixth-inning made all of the difference as the Flycatchers ran away with Sunday’s game.
First baseman Devin Radar had a team-leading three hits, followed by shortstop Oscar Galvez and Audeves, who had two each.
With the loss, the Hormigas fall to 12-27.
They wrap up their final home stand of the season Tuesday against Blackwell. First pitch is 6 p.m.
