The Mountain View Toros topped the Corona del Sol Aztecs 2-0 in Tuesday’s varsity baseball game at Mountain View High School.

 

The Aztecs came into the day’s matchup not having lost on the road in the 2018 season. They had a record of 10-3.

 

The Toros possessed a tough challenge for the Aztecs to handle. Mountain View was right there with the Aztecs amongst the top teams in the state with a season record of 10-4 heading into Tuesday’s game.

 

The Toros were led by senior pitcher John Neeley. Neeley threw seven shutout innings with six strikeouts and only five hits allowed on 72 pitches.

 

“We’ve been looking for our defense to improve,” coach Mike Thiel said. “John played great, our defense played great behind him, and we beat a very good Corona team.”

 

Neeley had all the confidence on the mound, throwing 77 percent of his pitches for strikes.

 

“It really all came together today on the mound,” Neeley said. “I felt great out there. I was locating my pitches well, and my changeup was there for me all day.”

 

The Toros scored one run in the second inning and another in the third off the bats of infielders Dallas Wise and Jared Thomas. 

 

Wise finished the game going 2-for-3 with one RBI. He now has a batting average of .367 on the season. 

 

Thomas finished 1-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored. He now has a batting average of .364 on the season.

 

On the other side of the field, the Aztecs struggled to make up the early two-run deficit. Corona del Sol couldn’t seem to figure out Neeley on the mound.

 

“Neeley came to pitch today. He threw 72 pitches and 56 were strikes. That was the key. We didn’t know whether he was sitting first pitch curveball or first pitch fastball,” coach David Webb of Corona del Sol said.

 

“It’s tough…when a guy is on like that and pitching that well, you just got to tip your hat to him,” Webb said.

 

Mountain View moved to 11-4 on the season. The Toros head to Yuma on Thursday to face the Kofa Kings.

 

It’s not all bad for the Corona del Sol Aztecs. They are still amongst the top baseball programs in the state. The Aztecs hope to put this one behind them as they move forward in their season.

 

“For a youthful team this is a learning experience,” Webb said. “We just have to keep on plugging away, and grinding it out.”

 

Corona del Sol is set to play its second straight road game against the 6-2 Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions this Saturday. 

 

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