GUSTINE — The Gustine Reds shook off an early deficit and rode a dominant outing from ace Alex Quezada to an 8–3 win over previously undefeated Stone Ridge on Monday, opening league play with their most complete performance of the season.
Stone Ridge (3–1) struck first with a two‑run homer in the top of the first, but Quezada settled in immediately. The right‑hander piled up nine strikeouts through the first four innings and finished with 15 overall, striking out the side in both the fifth and seventh innings.
Gustine (2–3) answered quickly in the bottom of the first. After drawing a walk, Avery Ethridge stole second and third before swiping home to put the Reds on the board. Daniel Navarro followed with a two‑run single, then advanced to third on a passed ball to give Gustine a 3–2 lead.
Stone Ridge tied the game 3–3 in the third, but both defenses tightened until the Reds broke through again in the fourth. Ethridge singled and later stole home for the second time, putting Gustine back in front. The Reds then loaded the bases, prompting a Stone Ridge pitching change that did little to slow the momentum.
Frankie Silvera delivered the decisive blow, ripping a line drive into the corner for a bases‑clearing triple that sent the Gustine dugout roaring. Eddie Lomeli added an RBI single to cap a five‑run inning and extend the lead to 8–3.
With a five‑run cushion, Quezada and the Reds’ defense locked down the final innings. Stone Ridge never mounted another serious threat as Quezada closed the game with three straight strikeouts in the seventh.
After the game, Silvera said his fourth‑inning triple came down to keeping things simple.
“It felt good,” he said. “All I thought was ‘see ball, hit ball,’ and that’s what happened.”
Quezada said he found his rhythm as the game progressed.
“I started out a little rough,” he said. “Overall, toward the end I started to get my spots down and some spin on my sliders, and started looking good.”
Coach Barringer said the win was only the beginning.
“We are just getting started,” he said.
The victory puts Gustine atop the league standings. The Reds will play their next two games on the road before returning home to face Delhi on March 19 at 4 p.m.
