Moderator's Note: My daughter and I actually braved the crazy wind yesterday and watched this game until it's amazing ending...so glad we went :)
By James Yodice / Journal Staff Writer on Apr. 10, 2011
Volcano Vista's Andre Vigil, center, is greeted by teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam Saturday against Eldorado. Photo Credit - Roberto E. Rosales/Journal
Some were discussing it openly. Those who weren't, were almost certainly thinking it. Or fearing it.
Either way, Andre Vigil made prophets out of a whole bunch of people.
Class 5A's leading home-run hitter stepped into the box on Saturday afternoon with the bases loaded, his team trailing visiting Eldorado by three runs. With a ferocious wind blowing straight out, the possibility for a dramatic ending increased tenfold.
Vigil not only didn't disappoint, he authored one of the season's defining moments.
The Volcano Vista sophomore launched a towering fly ball to center that turned into a walkoff grand slam, and the state's No. 1-ranked team — which once trailed 10-0 — stunned No. 2 Eldorado 15-14.
"As soon as he was up with the bases loaded, we were calling it in the dugout," said Vigil's teammate, Victor Sanchez. "Get the fat part of the bat on it, and the game is over."
For Vigil, it was his 11th and most important home run of the year. It came off Marcus Jaramillo (0-2), the third Eldorado pitcher.
"I was hoping," said Vigil. "I figured if he (Eagles center fielder Josh Day) caught it, we'd still score a run. I was just hoping it would go over."
The blast capped a huge comeback for the Hawks, their second amazing rally in the last 10 days. Volcano Vista scored 10 runs in its final two at-bats March 31 to beat Sandia 15-14 in eight innings.
On Saturday, the Hawks (13-2) scored five in the six and five in the seventh to finish off a crazy rally on what was otherwise a nasty, miserable day for baseball.
"On a day we didn't deserve to win, we get the `W'," Volcano Vista coach Kevin Andersh said. "As a coach, I don't feel good about this. They (Eldorado) definitely deserved this win."
If that's true, imagine how Eldorado (12-3) must have felt walking out to the parking lot.
The Eagles dominated the first three innings, with four in the first, and three apiece in the second and third. Breckan Hunkle had an RBI double and two-run homer for Eldorado early, and Day, Thomas Lee Mares and Victor Guevara had RBI doubles. The Eagles chased Sanchez, the Volcano Vista starter.
Hawks reliever C.J. Romero managed the middle part of the game, allowing four runs in three innings of relief. But didn't let the Eagles run away and hide.
Eldorado starter Mares held the Hawks scoreless through three innings, but walked four of the first six batters he faced in the fourth. The Hawks scored four runs, and had a pulse.
"Very uncharacteristic," Eldorado coach Jim Johns said of Mares. "He's been our best control pitcher all year."
While Eldorado scored three in the top of the fifth to lead 13-4, the wind made the deficit bearable for Volcano Vista.
Sanchez hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth — the first of two for him; he now has nine — as the Hawks trailed 13-5.
In the bottom of the sixth, Volcano Vista really amped up the tension.
C.J. Trujillo's two-run double closed the gap to 13-7, and Vigil followed with a two-run homer (the first of two for him) to make it 13-9. Then Sanchez went deep again for a 13-10 score.
The Eagles manufactured a run in the top of the seventh. "Having a four-run lead going into the seventh, you're fairly comfortable," Johns said.
That feeling didn't last long.
Nick Gonzales legged out an infield single leading off the seventh for the Hawks. Jared Chavez followed with a single to right, and Dalton Bowers singled to left to load the bases. Jaramillo replaced Brandon Treadwell on the mound for Eldorado.
A fielder's choice ground ball scored a run to make it 14-11 — but the grounder was also bobbled for an error, and the bases remained loaded for Vigil, who took Jaramillo (0-2) high and deep. The wind certainly helped.
"We have bad weather here sometimes," said Vigil, who was also the winning pitcher and is 2-0. "If you get the opportunity with the wind, we'll take it."
Both teams begin district play next week. The Hawks open in 1-5A on Tuesday against Cibola. Eldorado takes on Manzano in 2-5A on Wednesday.
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