WATERFORD — Behind another commanding outing from pitcher Alex Quezada (#2) and a steady, pressure‑driven offensive approach, the Gustine Reds rolled to a 13–4 win over the Waterford Wildcats on Friday. The Reds shook off early missed chances and broke the game open with big innings in the third and seventh, capitalizing on walks, wild pitches and timely hitting to stay unbeaten in league play.
Quezada set the tone on the mound, working through traffic and delivering when it mattered most. After Waterford tied the game 1–1 in the second, the junior right‑hander stayed composed. Catcher Eddie Lomeli (#20) helped halt the Wildcats’ momentum by throwing out a runner attempting to steal second following a passed ball. Quezada’s biggest stand came in the fifth, when he protected a 9–2 lead by striking out three straight batters with the bases loaded, shutting down Waterford’s best scoring opportunity of the afternoon.
Gustine’s offense found its spark in the top of the third. Frank Silvera (#3) ripped a two‑run triple to put the Reds ahead 3–1, and Sebastian Vargas (#12) followed with a two‑RBI single to right‑center. Avery Etheridge (#4) capped the five‑run inning with an RBI single that forced a Waterford pitching change. The Reds added two more in the fifth on Etheridge’s sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Luke Avila (#25), stretching the lead to 9–2.
Joao Palomino (#21) took over in relief in the sixth and immediately induced a key double play to keep Waterford in check. Gustine’s offense wasn’t finished, adding four more runs in the seventh. Ryan Barcelos (#1) delivered a two‑run single, and aggressive baserunning pressured the Wildcats into additional mistakes that pushed the margin to 13–3.
Waterford managed a run in the bottom of the seventh, but the comeback ended when Lomeli secured a foul tip for the final out.
“I’m so proud of them for showing up every day to practice, even when it’s hot or they have a lot of schoolwork,” Reds head coach Barringer said. “They’re out here every single day putting in the work. Sometimes it’s 5:30 and I’m ready to wrap it up, and they’ll ask to keep going until the sun goes down. This is a team that wants to win, and that hunger is what’s going to separate us from the pack.”
With the victory, Gustine improves to 5–0 in league play and now turns its attention to a pivotal matchup against the 6–0 Mariposa Grizzlies. The Reds return home for a rematch on Thursday, April 2, at 4 p.m.
