Stallions can’t get out of funk against Tigers

After winning its first 11 games of the season, the Madera South Stallions baseball team has hit a funk since entering County/Metro Athletic Conference play.

The Stallions have lost all six CMAC games this year and by a pretty good margin. They have been outscored by Bullard-Fresno and Edison-Fresno 71-21.

The Stallions hope to get back on track this week with three games scheduled against Sanger, a team they beat 6-1 on April 17.

The Stallions couldn’t seem to do the right things Thursday in a 16-7 loss to Edison at Eddie Chapa Field.

Madera South lost to Edison on May 11 in a 3-2 walk-off. The Tigers completed the sweep with a 6-2 victory on Saturday.

Starter Jair Alvarez walked four batters and allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Jojo Cosio allowed seven runs in three innings. Xavier Cantu allowed four runs, two earned in an inning and Jonathan Spraggins allowed two runs as the Tigers scored in every inning except the first.

The Stallions didn’t get things going until the fifth inning. Spraggins led the Stallions with two hits. Murf Gray hit a three-run home run and scored two runs from the lead-off spot.

Through the first four innings, Edison had a 6-0 lead. Of the six runs, five reached base on a walk or a hit batter.

The Tigers scored four in the fifth and another four in the sixth that was helped by three hit batters. Edison closed out the seventh with two more runs for their highest run total of any game this season.

Madera South showed some signs of light late against the Tigers.

Gray led off the fifth with a walk. After a strikeout, A.J. Rocha drew a walk and Xavier Cantu singled to left to load the bases.

After another strikeout, Brian Monges singled off the second baseman to drive in Gray with Madera South’s first run of the game. The next batter struck out to end the rally.

With one out in the sixth, Jorge Gutierrez led off with a walk. Gray and Tang were walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, Xavier Cantu was hit by a pitch to force in Gutierrez for the second run.

In the seventh, Monges reached on an error. Spraggins and Aiden Sua drew walks to load the bases.

Gutierrez grounded out while Monges scored.

Three pitches later, Gray launched a 1-1 pitch over the left-centerfield fence for a three-run home run culminated in a bat flip.

Madera South kept the rally going when Tang drew his third walk of the game. After a popout, pinch-hitter Josiah Meza drew a walk.

Jasir Alvarez singled to right-center to drive in Tang.

However, the next batter struck out to end Madera South’s five-run seventh inning rally.