Bottom third produces as Dragons beat Leto, 3-1

Dragons sophomore Victor Mendez speeds down the line scoring in the sixth run as Jefferson defeated Leto, 3-1 on Thursday night.

By Jarrett Guthrie, Editor

TAMPA – It took a beat for the Jefferson offense to find its gear on Thursday night, and Leto was able to capitalize with a run in the first of the early-season meeting. But sometimes when the pressure is on, it’s those at the bottom of the lineup who find a way to get the job done.

Certainly, that is how things played out for the Dragons as the bottom-third started the spark that allowed Jefferson to rally with a pair of runs in the fifth, and an insurance run in the sixth as Cam Copple, CJ Padilla and Isiah Fernandez each picked up hits and either added a run or RBI to their team’s 3-1 win over visiting Leto.

“The approach was just to get a job done, do whatever it takes – absolutely whatever is necessary to get us a win,” Padilla said. “There is something about being at the bottom of the lineup that takes a bit of the pressure off, but you still have to get the job done, right?”

The night started with a nice recognition of the five-year anniversary for the 2018 Dragons team, which captured the program’s first state title. Around 10 former players attended and a collection of the coaching staff as well, with 2018 All-813Preps MVP Robby Martin and the team’s head coach Juan Fontela throwing out first pitches. The ceremony also featured a moment of silence for Juan Fontela Sr. who passed away last year, and was a presence at all the Dragons games on their run to the championship.

2018 Jefferson state champion and All-813Preps MVP Robby Martin shakes hands with Dragons catcher CJ Padilla after his first ceremonial first pitch, along with former head coach Juan Fontela (middle). 

Once the game began, Leto (0-1) got off to a quick start when Alejandro Santos sent a ball bounding up-the-middle for a one-out single in the first, a passed ball allowed the senior to move all the way to third, and he scored easily as Gerard Ortega doubled into the gap in right-center for the game’s first run.

Gerald Ortega watches his double sail into the gap, driving in the Falcons lone run of the game. 

Dragons senior Alejandro Aguilar worked around the early run, and contained things as an error put runners on the corner in the opening half-inning, before picking up the third out. He turned in three more innings of work without allowing another hit and struck out five, but did not factor in the decision.

After that, Jefferson (1-1) turned things over for the second time this season to senior righty John Valle for the fifth, and he was quickly greeted with a seeing-eye single from Leto’s Fabian Torres. But that was all the damage Valle would take on the night.

The home-fifth saw the Dragons get things going as the 7-, 8-, and 9-hole hitters took their second trips to the plate and in succession singled – Copple lined to left, Padilla lined to center and Fernandez bunted for a base hit to load the bases.

Copple took advantage of a passed ball on the first pitch and scored the tying run, as the other two runners moved up 90 feet. The Falcons kept it tied momentarily as third baseman Emilio Monje fired a strike home to the catcher, Torres, for an unforced out at the plate.

Leto catcher Fabian Torres keeps a run off the board, applying the tag after third baseman Emilio Monje’s dart to the plate.

But Cameron Mallo’s sac fly to right pushed the scale in the Dragons favor in the next at-bat.

Mallo, the Dragons second hitter, said it’s hard for him to think of the three producers at the bottom of Thursday’s lineup as afterthoughts in the order.

“At a different high school, I think they might all be top of the lineup guys,” he said. “It’s basically like having another 1-2-3 down there, and the second, third time through it makes our job easier to get those runs in.”

CJ Padilla drives in a run for the Dragons.

Jefferson added to the tally in the sixth, loading the bases on singles from Aguilar, Joseph Fritz and a walk to Copple, before Padilla skied a ball to center and pinch runner Victor Mendez hustled home on the sac fly.

“Those guys (at the bottom of the lineup) are as scrappy as they come,” Dragons head coach Spencer Nunez said. “…They know what their job is, they know they need to move runners around, and that is the key to this offense and manufacturing runs.”

With the lead in hand, Valle struck out a pair and ended the game on a fly ball, earning his first varsity win.

Dragons senior pitcher John Valle earned the win in relief, pitching three scoreless frames.

Leto will have its home opener against Robinson on Monday, and the Dragons go on the road to face Sickles next Tuesday.

⚾⚾⚾⚾

Jefferson 3, Leto 1

L 100|000|0 – |1|3|0
J 000|021|x – |3|8|1
W – Valle (1-0); L – Passalaris (0-1)
2B – Ortega (L). Records – L (0-1); J (1-1).

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