Joshua Armendariz admitted he struggled with command during his five innings on the mound.

The senior right-handed starter gave up three hits, five walks and one hit by pitch on 94 pitches.

Yet, Armendariz didn’t allow a run over his five innings — due in large part to a wealth of quality defensive plays — and the Odessa High baseball team used that strong performance to take a 6-2 victory over crosstown rival Permian in a District 2-6A contest on Friday at Pressly Field.

“I trust my defense behind me,” Armendariz said. “I try to go up there and throw as many strikes as possible. Our defense is great. They are phenomenal out there.”

The strong defensive plays behind Armendariz included right fielder Johnny Rodriguez making a diving catch to end a threat in the third inning. Left fielder Christian Anaya also made a diving catch that the Bronchos turned into a double play during the fourth. Bo Martinez made a short glove flip to Shandon Herrera at first base for the first out in the fifth.

Odessa High (18-11 overall, 8-5 District 2-6A) stranded nine Permian base runners, which included straight three innings with two runners left on base.

“I was really proud of our defense for making some plays,” Odessa High head coach Josh Hulin said. “It wasn’t like we made these outstanding plays, but we made some plays that kind of swung momentum our way. We made the plays that we needed to make. (Armendariz) didn’t have his best stuff, but he grinded it out and competed his tail off.”
The Bronchos didn’t have any trouble with the bats, giving themselves a quick 3-0 lead after the first inning.

Odessa High had the first four batters reach base with a hit. Andres Martinez opened the contest with a double to left-center field, while Bo Martinez, Shandon Herrera and Jacob Munoz each followed with singles. Herrera’s and Munoz’s hits drove in runs. Munoz scored the final run of the first inning on a wild pitch from Permian starting pitcher Seth Higdon.

“Andres started off the inning real well and that’s what sparked us,” said Munoz, who finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored. “Everybody followed after that by getting hits and driving in runs.”

After the three-run first inning, Higdon settled down and allowed three runs on six hits over the next 4 2/3 innings. He also collected five strikeouts.

The Panthers (7-20-1, 2-11) didn’t find a hit with runners in scoring position until the top of the seventh inning when Tyson Banks ripped a two-run RBI double to deep center field.

“We got guys on in the first three or four innings and we just left them on base,” Permian head coach Jimmy Webster said. “We never would get a base hit with guys on. When (Odessa High) got those fourth and fifth runs in 
fourth, that kind of opened it up and let them relax and play a little bit more.”

Tony Carrasco supplied an RBI single, which effectively knocked Higdon out of the contest, in bottom of the sixth inning for Odessa High. Permian reliever Slade Lee needed one pitch to get the final out of the frame.

The Bronchos finished with 10 hits, which included four for extra bases. Damian Aspeitia allowed two runs on three hits in two innings of relief for Odessa High. The Panthers ended with six hits with three of those coming in the final inning.

Odessa High closes out the regular season with series against Midland Lee beginning at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Pressly Field. The Bronchos, who clinched a playoff spot after Tuesday’s win, sit in a tie for third place with the Rebels in the district standings. The Panthers will end their season with two games against Amarillo Tascosa.

“There’s still so much to play for,” Hulin said. “I know that we can still improve our seed. The better seed you get the better opportunity you have in the playoffs.”
