In other news, Senior Jeff Varela pitched an efficient game in making his first career Varsity start on the mound. Varela threw 7 innings, gave up 2 unearned runs, struck out 6 batters, and did not walk a batter in tossing a complete game for the Conquerors.
Varela produced groundball after groundball with the damage coming only in the first inning when a Los Altos error combined with three groundball basehits produced 2 runs for La Puente. But that was the only offense that La Puente would be able to generate. After the 1st inning, La Puente managed only 2 singles and 1 flyout. Varela's heavy ball precluded the possibility of La Puente producing any lift on the ball. The game appropriately ended on a groundball back to Varela as he unveiled the "knuck" to retire the final batter.
The Conquerors got on the board first when sophomore Adrian Cota singled and advanced to third base on an errant pickoff throw by pitcher RJ Cornell. Junior Daniel Sandello extended his hit streak to 10 with an RBI-single to left field.
The Conqueror bats remained quiet until the 4th inning when junior Mike Ahumada reached first base on an error by the shortstop. After two groundball outs to second base moved the native of Sinaloa, Mexico, to third base, Jesus Rivera and Adrian Cota produced consecutive singles to give the Conquerors a 3-2 lead. After Sandello walked, Junior Matt Chambers singled up the middle to provide an insurance run for Los Altos.