A power surge that included home runs from Michael Mendoza and Chris Arredondo weren’t enough on Saturday as Citrus College’s Fighting Owls edged out Glendale’s Vaqueros at Stengel Field 7-3.

Called in at the last minute, Vaquero Juan Sanchez put in a solid, gutsy effort as he showed composure and stability while throwing four innings of three-run ball.

“I couldn’t throw my pitches.I fell behind in the count too much, I just didn’t have it today,” he said. The three runs allowed by Sanchez were the first of the season for him as he entered the game with a 0.00 ERA.

Scouts were in the stands ready to gun Sanchez’s fastballs as he is being heavily recruited. He started out strong with a 1-2-3 inning including a strike out. The second inning wasn’t as easy as Citrus College put up two runs on the board but Sanchez battled and held the score at 2-0.

By the third inning, it was 3-0, and it could have been worse for the Vaqs if it wasn’t for a play at the plate that saved a run from being scored.

Sanchez was struggling in the fourth inning but remained focused and kept a run from scoring as he caught a popped-up bunt to end the top half of the inning. His defense didn’t help him much either as they committed two errors behind him.

That was it for him as coach Chris Cicuto brought in J.P. Cohn to pitch and hold down Citrus College. Cohn did very well in his bid as he didn’t allow a single run or hit.
The Owls scored one more run in the top of the seventh but in the bottom half of the inning Arredondo hit a towering two-run shot over the left field fence that made the crowd roar and the score 4-3.

But Citrus scored three runs in the top of the ninth, making it 7-3. Glendale went quietly in the bottom half, and that’s how the game would end.

“We have to play with more confidence…play our game and execute offensively,” said Cicuto.

“J.P. did a great job but we couldn’t get that big out. All the walks came with two outs, we weren’t very productive, and we hit the ball right at people.we have to bounce back.”

Glendale plays at L.A. Valley College Thursday at 2:30 p.m.