Armijo baseball outduels Vanden as both starters go the distance

FAIRFIELD — Justice Grimmett delivered an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning as the Armijo High School baseball team came away with a 1-0 victory Friday at Vanden to end what had been a brilliant error-free pitching duel between two dominant starters.

Brayan Orrantia finished with a one-hit complete game for the Royals with just two walks and 10 strikeouts. He got stronger as the game went on and struck out the last two Vanden batters for his fourth win the Monticello Empire League this season. Armijo is now 6-7 overall and 5-4 in league.

“I couldn’t have done it without our team,” Orrantia said through an interpreter. “I just focused on every pitch, found the right spots and had confidence in my defense. I’m very patient on every pitch. It helps me concentrate and do the job.”

Armijo won two of the three games in the series this week. The Royals took Wednesday’s game

7-0 behind Luis Urias’ excellent pitching and held the Vikings scoreless in 14 innings. Vanden won the opener on Monday 10-2.

Vanden’s Brayden Bruno was equally good on Friday. Bruno also pitched a complete game, scattered seven hits, walked no one and struck out five. Vanden fell to 9-4 overall and 6-3 in the MEL.

“It was a pitching duel from the onset and runs were at a premium,” Vanden head coach Ryan Adams said. “We had our chances. We didn’t do enough offensively. We had a runner on third with no out. We have to do better.”

Calogero Regalado had a single to open the game for Armijo but was left stranded. Orrantia and Ben Parks got on base in the fourth but Vanden shortstop Aidan Robles scooped up a ground ball, touched second and threw to first for a double play. Parks and Damian Romo singled to get on base in the seventh inning and Grimmitt delivered the RBI single to right. Parks raced around third and was able to slide under the tag at home for the game-winner.

“I’ve told the guys all year that we need to win the good baseball games,” Armijo head coach Casey Towner said.

Vanden had opportunities of its own. The Vikings got runners on second and third in the fifth inning when a ground ball hit the foot of one of the baserunners for an out. A runner on third base in the sixth inning was left stranded after a fly ball to right field wasn’t deep enough for a sacrifice and two hard hit balls were handled on the mound by Orrantia.

Parity has played a big role in the start to this MEL season. The league race is paused next week for Spring Break before two weeks of action closes out the season. Armijo will finish up the league season against Rodriguez and Fairfield. Vanden will get Vacaville and Rodriguez.

“The league is deep this year and there are no off days,” Adams said.

“We knew there would be parity this season,” Towner said. “The situation is we are 5-4. I think anything can happen. I do see us getting better and better.”