Arbor View’s Quintana takes advantage of opportunities, blasts two homers

Arbor View’s Nick Quintana doesn’t see many fastballs when he steps into the batter’s box, as most Southern Nevada pitchers have caught on to the all-state shortstop.

But on the rare chance the 5-foot-10-inch junior gets one, he usually doesn’t let it go to waste.

Quintana had two home runs and four RBIs on Saturday to help the Aggies to a 10-0 home win over Las Vegas in six innings in the second annual Pat Hayden Day game.

“He has almost been too selective lately,” Arbor View coach Jay Guest said. “They’re trying to pitch around him by throwing a lot of off-speed pitches, but he got the pitches he needed to get today. And when he’s hot, he can carry us. It’s good for him to get back on track.”

After Sam Pastrone walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning, Quintana hit a no-doubt, two-run homer to left field for the Aggies (21-7). It was the first of four home runs for Arbor View, which rebounded from last week’s offensive slump.

“We hit the ball really well today,” Guest said. “The wind’s been blowing to left field. We saw that in batting practice yesterday, so we took advantage of that. We also had some pretty good at-bats. … We had a pretty rough patch this past week (losing three of the past four games). We’re not out of the woods yet, but we played a good, clean game today.”

In the third inning, Pastrone put the Aggies ahead 3-0 with a leadoff home run. Jayce Gardner then had a double down the right-field line, stole second base and scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.

Arbor View, which finished with six stolen bases, added two runs in the fourth inning on an error by Las Vegas center fielder Julio Seperich. Wyatt Velasco and R.J. Rodriguez each drew walks to start the inning and scored after Quintana’s deep fly to center field was dropped with two outs.

Velasco added an RBI single in the fifth inning, and Quintana and Ryan McHale hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth to end the game.

Shawn Martin gave up three hits and struck out four in 3 2/3 innings to get the win. Brady Borden, Jake Rucker and Parker McHale pitched in relief for the Aggies.

“That’s what we wanted to have done,” Guest said. “Those guys, who don’t really get to throw a lot, got some work.”

Eddie Ojeda and Parker Lowe each hit doubles for Las Vegas (14-12).

Contact reporter Ashton Ferguson at aferguson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430. Follow him on Twitter: @af_ferguson.