Criminal’s Pastrana dominates after Hawks honor former star Blake Avila

Josef Pastrana threw 11 strikeouts over seven innings during Thursday's win

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The Gila Ridge Hawks honored one of its former standouts before the first pitch Thursday, but the Yuma High Criminals spoiled the celebration with a 3–1 victory.

Prior to the game, former Hawks player Blake Avila was inducted into Gila Ridge’s Wall of Honor. Avila starred for the Hawks as a four-year starter posting a .453 batting average before continuing his career at Central Arizona, where he helped the program capture an NJCAA Baseball Championship.

He later played at Grand Canyon for the Antelopes and the Utah Valley Wolverines, contributing to teams that won regular-season titles in the Western Athletic Conference.

Avila said the recognition meant a great deal to him.

“It’s a big deal for me,” Avila said. “I played here for four years and had four great years. I know all the names that are on that wall, and it’s an honor to be a part of it. I’m truly grateful.”

Avila also shared a message for younger players in the program.

“I just want to be a role model and set an example for the future kids to come,” Avila said. “Hopefully I get a chance to coach here in a couple years with Coach Kuzniak, Coach Irving, my dad and just show them how we play baseball down here — that you can play college, you can go pro, whatever you want.”

Once the game began, Yuma High quickly took control.

The Criminals broke through in the third inning when Jack Bouts singled to center field and later scored on a groundout by Gilbert Heredia to give Yuma a 1–0 lead.

Yuma added insurance in the fifth inning when Kane Huerta-Urbalejo ripped a ball into the outfield that skipped past the left fielder. Huerta-Urbalejo raced into third base with a two-run triple to extend the lead to three.

On the mound, Josef Pastrana delivered a dominant performance for the Criminals, striking out 11 batters across seven innings. Gila Ridge managed to push across a late run in the bottom of the 7th inning, but Pastrana and Yuma held on for the 3–1 win.

The victory marked the third straight for Yuma High, improving the Criminals to 4–3 on the season while Gila Ridge fell to 2–7 with the loss.