The DeWitt Clinton and Walton high school varsity baseball teams met on Wednesday, April 9, at the Clinton’s school field, just two days after Clinton was no-hit by Walton’s Peter Ozuna in an 11-0 blowout.

While the Governors managed to squeeze out two hits and two runs on Wednesday, the Walton Wildcats once again out-hit and out-pitched Clinton for a 12-2 win. It was the Wildcats’ fourth win in five games this season.

The loss sunk Clinton to 2-2 this year.

Walton’s hitting has been solid all season, scoring at least six runs in each of their wins. But it’s their pitching that has been the true key to their success. So far this season, the Wildcats’ team ERA is a ridiculous 1.00, giving up just seven runs, five earned, in five games.

Clinton’s lone bright spots came from team Captain Mauricio Matos, the designated hitter, and Joseph Flores, the Governors’ catcher. Flores had hits in each of his at bats, and Matos had the team’s only RBI, as well as two walks, and two stolen bases. Flores and Matos are currently tied for 2nd in batting average in the Bronx East A division. They are each hitting .667.

James Monroe’s Nelson Arroyo, who leads the Bronx East A division in batting average, is hitting .833 after three games.

The Wildcats were led by Andy Mendez, who pitched all five of the innings in the “mercy rule” shortened game. Mendez, who also leads the team in batting average, (.500 before Wednesday’s game), as well as steals, five so far this year, carried a shutout into the fifth inning.

But after Walton’s hitters batted around the order for a six-run fourth inning that lasted over half an hour, Mendez appeared to lose some of his command. He walked the first two batters, drawing a visit to the mound from Coach Jason Norman. Norman says he asked Mendez how he felt, and Mendez replied, “I’m fine. I’ll pick it up.”

While both runners would eventually score, due to an error by Walton’s shortstop, Mendez effectively shut down Clinton’s hitters. Mendez struck out two batters, separated by the misplayed ground ball, and induced a pop fly to end the inning.

“When I made mistakes (against the first two hitters of the inning), I lost focus,” Mendez said. “But I put my head back into it, and got the outs I needed.”