4/12/2011 7:58:27 PM
Box Score
EL PASO, TX--Franklin had won 17 straight games going into Tuesday's match up with 6-16 Bel Air. The Cougars record sat at 24-2 with their only defeats being one-run contests against perennial state contenders Coppell and Highland Park, both games in which Franklin had the tying run in scoring position in their last at bat.
Tuesday's 85-degree, sunny weather was perfect for baseball and the Cougars pounded out 15 hits in a easy 11-0 victory.
The offense started the game quickly, scoring five runs on six hits in the top of the first inning with 3B Gabe Alvarez and RF Cody Snyder both hitting home runs to left field.
The dimensions were a bit peculiar at Bel Air, with straight away left field being one of the deepest parts of the park, until the wall juts in 25-30 feet in the left-center alley making this field very enticing for right-handed hitters. Both Alvarez and Snyder used that porch, as did
LF Ricky Jacquez one his 4th inning grand slam that made the score 9-0 and blew the game wide open.
Jacquez playing his first game of the year in the outfield, is also a top prospect on the mound and was named an AFLAC All-American last August. Jacquez's fastball was clocked at 94 at last year's
National Showcase at Tropicana Field and he is currently
ranked #47 in the 2011 class.
The Texas commit, is a slender athlete, standing 5'9 and weighing 160 pounds, but showed an easy swing with bat speed on his grand slam, which was a no-doubter. He hit the ball hard his first two times at-bat, both groundouts to SS, the second of which registered 95 mph off the bat.
"I just tried to stay patient and stay back on the ball," he said after the game when asked about the homer, "at the plate I just try to wait until he makes a mistake and capitalize."
Video footage of Ricardo Jacquez
Franklin pushed across two more runs in the top of the 5th to make 11-0 the final. 1B Cameron Haskins drove home both runs on a line drive single off the right-field wall. Jacquez followed up with a line-drive double of his own, but both men were stranded.
The Cougars offensive explosion overshadowed the stellar pitching of RHP Guillermo Trujillo who struck out nine, allowing only no hits and walking none in 4 innings.
Trujillo worked 83-86 with his fastball during his appearance, flashing four pitches, toggling between his curveball and slider as his out pitch by inning. The junior has a tall athletic build, throwing on a downhill plane from a 3/4 slot and employs a simple, smooth delivery. His slider was at 74-77, with his curve ball checking it at 69-71.
He threw just 51 pitches in the outing, with an impressive 74.5% going for strikes.
Video footage of Guillermo Trujillo
RHP Joseph Camacho came in throw the 5th, striking out the side after a lead-off error, working 83-85 with his fastball from sidearm slot.
Those two pitchers, along with Jacquez, give Franklin a solid trio of arms to compete against tougher competition come playoff time.
"We are fortunate at Franklin to have a deep pitching staff with several arms that can get the job done," said head coach Andy Powers. "Ricky's been a great example to the rest of the staff, pulling them aside and giving them words of advice."
Franklin SS Ray Delgado was another standout performer on the offensive side going 2-3 with a double and scoring two runs. The El Paso CC commit has a tall, long frame with strength, showing solid actions at SS, while being short to the ball with bat speed and strength at the plate.
Jacquez ended the day 2-4 with 5 RBI and was named Perfect Game Road Trip Player of the Game.
Franklin has four regular season games remaining before the Texas State Playoffs begin.
The PG High School Hittin' The Road Tour continues tomorrow in San Antonio for a 7:15 (CT) game as Madison takes on Roosevelt.
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