The Odessa High baseball team scored twice in the first inning and two more times in the third, then squashed a Midland High rally in the seventh, to earn a 4-2 victory Thursday at Pressly Field.
The Bronchos (16-7-2 overall, 5-3 in District 2-6A) got an outstanding performance from starter Jayven Gonzales.
He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out nine Bulldogs for the victory.
Macros Castro earned the save in relief, coming on with no outs in the seventh after Midland High’s Jorge Villalobos cut Odessa High’s lead in half with a two-run home run.
Castro retired the first two hitters he faced, then gave up a double to Jakee Urias to bring the potential tying run to the plate in Bulldogs’ designated hitter Michael Lujan.
Castro, however, was able to get Lujan to fly out to left field to end the game.
Wiki Deleon was 2 for 3 with a triple, one run scored and three RBIs in the victory.
The game marked the return of former Odessa High head coach Josh Hulin, who moved to take over Midland High after the 2022 season.
The three-game series continues at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Zachery Field in Midland, then concludes at 1 p.m. Saturday back at Pressly Field.
