Faces New and Old, Big and Small, Fast and Slow make big Contributions in Braves 17-9 win.
Rookies Rivera, Valenzuela and Solorio continue to impress; Woods,Martinez and Huizar swing bats like veterans and Marquez provides innings on the hill for Braves.
It doesn't happen that often, so when I am right, It's pretty exciting. A week or so before the start of the season, I ran an article on the Fastest guy in the league, Braves outfielder Javier Solorio. At the beginning of the season the coaching staff could see his athleticism, attitude and speed and knew he'd be a star athlete in High School, possibly beyond. Maybe a wide out, or a track guy. Who knew Javy's play on the baseball field would improve this much this fast?
Thursday with five runs on the board already and two outs in the first, Solorio hit a GROUND BALL to the left of the second baseman and the right of the right fielder playing the line.
Fatino would score easily, but from the moment he stepped out of the box, Javy was being waved home by third base coach Rick Rivera. Javier hit the ball so hard, that even with the length of the grass it still managed to reach the fence. by the time it did, Javy had rounded second, by the time the ball was picked up, Javy was nearly home and by the time the pitcher got the ball back Javy was sitting comfortably in the dugout. A legitimate in the park homerun, in little league. This was by far the biggest highlight of a night in which Josh Marquez made his season debut on the hill and pitched well, striking out 5 in 2.1 innings.
The Rockies were a hitting bunch of players, pounding out 14 hits off of Marquez and Martinez. Luckily, on this day, the Braves appeared to be just a little stronger at the plate, pounding out 11 hits of their own and having in the neighborhood of 30 base runners on the day. Johnny Huizar was 2 for 4 with a double 3 runs scored and 2 RBIS. Brett Woods had two hits, reached base all five times and drove in 3. Bryant Valenzuela had a hit and scored two runs, Marquez was two for 4 with an RBI and, for the second game in a row, 10 year old Ricky Rivera put on a power display for all the 5-9 150 pound 12 year olds on the Rockies. Rivera had two deep gap doubles one to left and one two right, each making it to the fence in a couple hops.
The Rockies did battle back late, cutting the lead to one at 9-8 in the fifth. But in the end, the Braves would step with class, without any need to brag, through the line congratulating the Rockies for a hard fought game. The Braves know that feeling having recently been spanked themselves. As for the legend of Javy Solorio and the "in the parker." Those of us that saw it will one day be telling our great grand kids about it. AMAZING!!!
Next up, the third of seven meetings with Ribbons teams as the Braves look to separate from the others Saturday.
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