TUCSON, AZ. – The Kokopellis delivered another thrilling performance this past Friday, securing their third consecutive victory with a dramatic 20-14 win over the Sidewinders in seven innings. While the offense continued to sizzle in the Tucson heat, it was the team’s explosive fifth inning that truly defined this comeback story.
Though the final score tells one tale, it barely captures the magic of that pivotal fifth inning when the Kokopellis exploded for an incredible 11 runs, completely shifting the game’s momentum back into Kino’s favor. This offensive explosion not only fueled their comeback but also provided crucial insurance runs that would prove decisive.
On the mound, Devin Alvarez showcased his closing prowess over the final two innings, surrendering just one hit across 2.2 innings while striking out seven batters to seal the victory.
Let’s dive deeper into this remarkable performance and explore what the box score couldn’t capture in this week’s analysis of the Kokopellis’ latest triumph.
This Offense Continues To Put Up Video Game Numbers
It’s been incredible to watch this offensive barrage from the Kokopellis in the previous three games. It’s quite remarkable, to say the least. Through three games, Kino has put up an incredible 37 runs. That’s coming off of 37 hits, 27 walks, 11 extra-base hits, and 2 home runs. The team is slashing a combined .370/.519/.530 with a 1.049 OPS.
These are quite literally numbers that you’re used to seeing with your rookie mode character on MLB The Show, but instead, the Kokopellis are doing it at a professional level. Friday was the biggest offensive party this season so far, when the Kokopellis put up an impressive 20 runs with 14 hits, 11 walks and 18 RBI’s.
The 20 runs don’t tell the entire story either. The Kokopellis had an incredible second and fifth innings that coaches just dream about at night. The fifth inning is a major factor in the Kokopellis walking away with the win on Friday. Their fifth inning started off with a hit-by-pitch, and back-to-back singles by Jojo Escarcega and Michael Vasquez. Which brought up Mike De La Cruz, who was able to reach on error and bring Escarcega home.
Then it was Gabe Ortiz who showed off their patience at the plate to load the bases for OJ Mares. Mares singled on a fly ball to right field, which allowed De La Cruz to score. Simon Garcia and Diego Kisner were able to secure two back-to-back RBI walks.
Devin Alvarez and Alejandro Martinez kept the runs going with back-to-back RBI singles, with Michael Vasquez recreating Alvarez and Martinez AB’s shortly after. In total, the Kokopellis brought a total of 11 runs in the fifth inning, drawing three walks and seven hits on top of it. Kino held an incredible .733 OBP in the fifth inning, and that was all the insurance they needed to put this one away. When Kino defeated the Sidewinders on Friday, it was hard not to think to yourselves that the offense is this team’s identity so far.
Pitching Has Positives Mixed In On Friday’s Win
While the pitching staff allowed 13 earned runs in Friday’s win over the Sidewinders, there were still plenty of positives to take away from the performance.
The biggest one? Kino’s pitching staff continued to find ways to get outs when it mattered most. Despite the runs allowed, the Kokopellis held the Sidewinders to just six hits through seven innings, showing the ability to limit hard contact and keep the offense within striking distance.
The walks were ultimately the biggest hurdle for the pitching staff, but that also provides a clear area for improvement moving forward. If Kino can limit the free passes while continuing to get the same kind of production from its offense, the ceiling for this team becomes even higher. And if any pitching staff can help those free passes, it’s one-hundred percent this coaching staff right here with Kino.
And that’s what makes this start so encouraging. Kino is already finding ways to win while leaving plenty of room for improvement. The offense has been explosive, the pitching staff has shown flashes, and the team continues to find ways to make the plays necessary to close games out.
If the pitching staff can clean up the walks and build on the positives we’ve already seen, there is plenty of reason to believe the best may still be ahead.
Player Spotlights
This game against the Sidewinders had plenty of action, especially from these five names in particular. Devin Alvarez, Jojo Escarcega, Michael Vasquez, Cam Pendergrass and OJ Mares all walked away with multi-hit games. We got a chance to get a quick word from Alvarez as well, just days after his memorable Friday night game.
Devin Alvarez: 2/3, 4 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB / 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
”I’m still feeling really good about the weekend. Everything seemed to click at the plate, and I was able to just trust my approach. I’ve been putting in a lot of extra work so it was great to see that work pay off when it mattered. I was really just trying to stay patient and wait for my pitch. My teammates did a great job getting guys on base and setting me up. It was a huge team effort, and I’m just glad I could come through and help us get the win.”
Jojo Escarcega: 3/4, 2 RBI
Michael Vasquez: 2/4, 4 RBI
Cam Pendergrass: 3/3, 2 RBI
OJ Mares: 2/3, 1 RBI, 2 BB
We’ve already mentioned that this team has continued to find ways to win just beyond one player or two. We have tons of players who, despite the small sample size, have shown some great life so far. It’s important to mention players like Estevan Garcia, who is batting .667, Mike De La Cruz with a .444 AVG and Octavio Mendivil who carries a batting average of .375. This team has the potential to put anyone in the top of the lineup and get the results needed.
What’s Stood Out Through Three Games + What’s Next For The Kokopellis?
While it’s probably the easiest answer to say, “well, the offense has stood out,” and while you certainly wouldn’t be wrong, there’s been a lot more to like about this Kokopellis team through its first three games.
Kino has already shown that it can win in a variety of ways. The offense has been explosive, the lineup has shown patience at the plate, and the team has been aggressive once runners get on base. Even when things haven’t gone perfectly, the Kokopellis have continued to find ways to create opportunities and put pressure on the opposition.
Through three games, Kino has scored 37 runs, and that production hasn’t come from just one or two players carrying the lineup. There have been contributions throughout the order, giving this team a level of depth that could become one of its biggest strengths as the season moves along.
And that’s what makes these first three games so exciting. There isn’t just one thing that stands out about this team. There are multiple pieces working together and there may still be another level for this offense to reach.
- SIX stolen bases through three games
There’s no denying, this team has some speed in the dugout, and if that speed gets on the base paths, well, it’s gonna create some pressure on the pitcher. Estevan Garcia had an insane three stolen bases against the Hermanos on August 14th. You can ask any pitcher who’s been in the game for a while and they’ll tell you. When a speedy guy is on the base paths, it makes the game just a little bit harder.
- Aggressive base running + power and contact + patience = Kokopellis lineup
This team has all the makings of having all the fundamentals of smart ballplayers. The box score shows one story, but beyond that, this Kokopellis group has been fun to watch for statheads. Through three games, the team is carrying a 29.7% extra-base hit percentage, which means that about 30% of Kino’s hits are coming off of everything but singles. (Hits achieved due to errors or fielder’s choice do not count as XBH.)
Both of those tie into the aggressive base running and power/contact category. While carrying almost a thirty-percent extra-base hit percentage and a combined .370 batting average as a team, the Kokopellis are more patient than a guy waiting for an answer to prom. An even 20% of the Kokopellis’ plate appearances have resulted in walks. Kino has an incredible 27 walks through 3 games, which is averaging at nine a game. When the ball isn’t in the sweet spot, well, that’s okay. The Kokopellis will just let the pitcher make a mistake or either take advantage of the free walk.
- Ability to score in bunches and forcing opponents to use multiple relievers
One of the biggest strengths of this Kokopellis offense has been its ability to turn one good inning into a massive inning. When Kino starts stringing together quality at-bats, the runs can come quickly, and that puts a ton of pressure on the opposing pitching staff.
A big inning doesn’t just add runs to the scoreboard, either. It can force a starter out of the game earlier than expected and make the opposing manager dig deeper into the bullpen. Once multiple relievers are being used, Kino gets more opportunities to see different arms and attack pitchers who may not have been part of the original game plan.
We’ve already seen what this offense can do when everything starts clicking. The Kokopellis aren’t an offense that needs to score one run at a time — they have the ability to completely flip a game in a single inning.
And with the combination of patience, contact, power and aggressive base running that this team has shown early on, those big innings could become one of Kino’s biggest weapons as the season continues.
- What’s next for the Kokopellis?
Kino will look to extend their three-game winning streak over the Calsetines (1-2) on August 30th, 2026 at 9 A.M., with Murrieta Park being the backdrop for the matchup. Devin Alvarez will also have an opportunity to take the lead in the league for home runs. He is currently tied for first with two. It’s a three-way tie at the top for the lead in the Liga Mexico-Americana De Beisbol league, but it’s just starting to heat up.
The Old Pueblo Tribe will also be in action this Saturday against Los Magos at 9 A.M. at Desert View.
The Bear’s Final Takeaway
Three games into the season and the record speaks for itself. Kino is 3-0, the offense is producing at an insane rate, and players throughout the lineup are finding ways to contribute. There is obviously a long season ahead, but if the first three games are any indication, this is a team worth keeping an eye on. Three games, three wins, and apparently twenty runs wasn’t enough to slow this offense down. It’s going to be fun to watch this team for the remainder of the season, and if you haven’t caught a game or our coverage, well, don’t miss out this Sunday!
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