Jurupa Valley’s Francisco Urena #3 pitches against San Bernardino in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
SAN BERNARDINO — The Jurupa Valley baseball team was determined not to give anything to San Bernardino in Tuesday’s battle for leadership atop the Mountain Valley League.
Francisco Urena pitched 6 1/3 innings, throwing over 80 pitches and letting his defense work behind him, in an 8-3 victory over San Bernardino as the Jaguars pulled even in the loss column with the Cardinals.
Jurupa Valley players stand in the dugout during the Mountain Pass League baseball game against San Bernardino in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Jurupa Valley’s Francisco Urena #3 pitches against San Bernardino in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino’s Antonio Quintero #21 is unable to make the catch of a Jurupa Valley hit ball in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Jurupa Valley’s Aaron Esperano #9 celebrates after a host against San Bernardino in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino’s Aiden Zuno #5 pitches against Jurupa Valley in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino catcher Juan Silva #28 looks for a pitch against Jurupa Valley in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino’s Aiden Zuno #5 reacts after scoring against Jurupa Valley in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino’s Aiden Zuno #5 tags out Jurupa Valley’s Nathaniel Ortega #8 as he tries to steal second in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino’s Aiden Zuno #5 tags out Jurupa Valley’s Nathaniel Ortega #8 as he tries to steal second in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino’s Aiden Zuno #5 tags out Jurupa Valley’s Nathaniel Ortega #8 and shows the umpire in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Jurupa Valley first base coach Nick Perez keeps his eyes on the runner against San Bernardino in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Jurupa Valley outfielderJesse Barbosa #19 is hit in the by a pitch from San Bernardino’s Brayden Williamson #3 in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino head coach Josh Doty is wants some gum as he uses his teeth to break the seal between inning of the game against Jurupa Valley in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Jurupa Valley outfielder Nathan Martinez #6 is unable to field San Bernardino hit ball in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Jurupa Valley’s Francisco Urena #3 roses the ball to Jurupa Valley’s Andrew Padilla #12 for the force out against San Bernardino in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino shortstop Raymond Merancio #8 pitches against Jurupa Valley in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino shortstop Raymond Merancio #8 tries to catch the ball as Jurupa Valley’s Nathaniel Ortega #8 steals second in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino outfielder Isiah Wells #4 hydrates between innings against Jurupa Valley in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Jurupa Valley’s Hayden Byrd #36 bunts to move runners over against San Bernardino in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino head coach Josh Doty in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Jurupa Valley outfielderJesse Barbosa #19 is hit by a San Bernardino pitch in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Jurupa Valley’s Hayden Byrd #36 is unable to turn the double play as San Bernardino’s Aiden Zuno #5 is forced out at second in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino infielders wait during a pitching change against Jurupa Valley in a Mountain Pass League baseball game in San Bernardino on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Urena was the losing pitcher when the teams met on Feb. 27, a 3-2 Cardinals victory in which Urena gave up a number of walks, according to Jurupa Valley coach Anthony Russi.
Tuesday, Urena helped himself on offense, getting two hits and a walk, while letting his teammates provide support on defense.
“My teammates said, ‘let them hit the ball and get outs’,” Urena said.
That proved successful as Jurupa Valley (8-6-1, 6-2) handed San Bernardino (5-2) just its second loss in the last 10 games.
“They (the Cardinals) are a scrappy team and they like to run,” Russi said. “Urena stayed in the game and didn’t let his early problems bother him.”
San Bernardino scored three runs in the first two innings, but Urena made adjustments. He threw high strikes effectively, striking out Juan Silva twice on that pitch.
“I just wanted to get ahead in the count,” Urena said. “My high fastball usually works well for me.”
Andrew Padilla led off the top of the fourth with a double, and moved to third on Hayden Byrd’s sacrifice bunt. Padilla scored on a double by Aaron Esperano. The Jaguars added another run on a San Bernardino miscue, and they went in front when a pitch glanced off the top of Jesse Barbosa’s helmet.
Jurupa Valley widened its lead by scoring four runs in the top of the seventh inning.
The battle for the top spot in the Mountain Valley League will continue Thursday, when the teams meet again at Jurupa Valley.
Russi said Padilla will pitch for Jurupa Valley, while San Bernardino coach Josh Doty said he will meet with his coaches to decide Thursday’s starter.
Doty said Tuesday’s performance was not indicative of how the Cardinals have played in winning eight of their first nine games.
“This is just the opposite of how we have played this year,” Doty said. “We haven’t made mental errors or mistakes.”
San Bernardino pitchers were called for a couple of balks, and Jurupa Valley hit a couple of balls to right field which were lost in the sun.
“I don’t want to sound arrogant, but the good start didn’t surprise me,” Doty said. “We lost two seniors, George Jones and Augie Cowan, from last year’s team. I think we have filled the questions and we have made very few mistakes and have shown a lot of energy.”
