On Saturday afternoon, under the summer sun, the Glendale baseball team did what they haven’t done yet this season: win four in a row. Rainbow umbrellas shaded ballpark fans as there was not a single cloud to blanket the blue sky above.

The Vaqs beat the Antelope Valley team by a score of 4-1. The Marauders lost their last two games prior to Saturday’s loss dropping them to 6-16 overall.

“We played defense and that was the biggest thing,” said Head Coach Chris Cicuto. “Every part of our team has a piece of the prize.

Pitcher Angel Rodriguez was the on the mound for the Vaqs and threw six scoreless innings.

The Vaqueros jumped to a 2-0 lead. Outfielder Raul Camas blasted a base hit up the middle of the Marauders second baseman and shortstop. Camas sped around first and slid into second. By the end of the second inning Camas scored and Glendale was up 3-0.

First baseman Harrison Hoff highlighted the bottom of the second with a leaning catch to save a Marauder single and keep the inning scoreless.

After a bunt attempt by Antelope Valley, third baseman Nick Padilla rushed home plate and barehanded the ball and threw over to second and force the double play.

“Today was tough one,” said Padilla. “We ended up with two hits in nine innings.”

Rodriguez was pulled in the seventh inning after giving up a hit and a run. His replacement, left-handed side-arm pitcher David Whitaker took over with one runner on base and no outs. Whitaker retired the side.

However, the Marauders weren’t quite done yet.

After a counter pitching change and the exit of Marauders right-hander Brandon Murachanian, Antelope Valley put up a strong showing with a key defensive play. Vaquero Jay Sheely walked up to the plate. The pitch rifled off his bat. Marauder second baseman Scott Savko hopped, fully extended, and stopped Sheeley in his tracks.

In the ninth inning, Keaton Leach stepped in for the save. After retiring a batter, Leach threw a pitch that contacted the end of a Marauder’s bat. Just when Antelope Valley would of had the potential tying run at the plate, shortstop David Garcia leaped like a bird in flight and shut the door on the Marauders.

The win puts Glendale at 13-10 on the year and 8-4 in the conference with nine conference games left in the season. The Vaqueros are sitting in the third spot just behind College of the Canyons.

Cicuto said that the focus isn’t on the future but just to keep playing baseball.

“We just have to keep improving and keep getting better,” said Cicuto, “but confidence is everything.”