In a post-game interview with MacArthur baseball coach Ernest Gonzales, his opening quote was short, but to the point.

“We have been in positions to win some games, but we just have not got that big, clutch hit, ” he said.

That was until the Generals’ District 19-5A night matchup against Stratford Friday night.

In the end, it was Isaac Medina’s RBI double in the seventh inning that proved to be the difference in a 7-6 win over the Spartans.

“We made some adjustments and work on them, but the kids came out today and got some clutch hits. Isaac (Medina) had been struggling at the plate and came in today and got two hits. And the last one has been the biggest one of the season so far.

MacArthur set the tone early jumping out to a 3-0 lead, but Stratford made sure to keep things close scoring one run each in the third and fourth inning to pull within two runs.

But it was the late innings when things began to get interesting. In the bottom of the fifth, MacArthur’s Jose Castro blasted a left center solo home run (345 feet) to regain the lead for the Generals.

Soon after, Stratford’s Ethan Jordan returned the favor with a sixth-inning home run (360 feet) of his own. Then a wild pitch brought home Jerry Young, which tied the game up at 6.

MacArthur’s Ryan Abalos started the inning off with a hit to get on base. Then, after a wild pitch advanced Abalos over to second, Medina sliced the game winning double to pull in the win for the Generals.

Gonzales decided to play what is referred to as ‘small ball’ in order to put his team in the best position for the win. And it worked out.

“We were playing for a one-run and inning and Stratford is a outstanding (good-hitting) team and we knew we had to stay close and (Juan) Miranda kept it close,” Gonzales said. “He pitched well against them. We though if we just go for one run an inning, move the ball around, and play the short game. I think it worked out well for us.

“(This win) It gives us the confidence we have been waiting for. Maybe we can get some momentum from this and carry it on.”

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