LA JARA – For the second time this season, the Centauri High School baseball team hosted Sanford Tuesday at the Falcons’ field.

The game was close until the sixth inning when the Falcons scored 11 runs en route to a 20-10 win over the Mustangs.

Sanford took the early lead by scoring four runs in the top of the first. Roman Edgar started the rally with a walk, and Rylan Mortensen was safe on an error. Trason Gartrell singled home Edgar, and another error allowed Rylan Mortensen to score.

Gartrell took third and scored on wild pitches for a 3-0 lead.

Jaxon Mortensen was hit by a pitch, and he advanced to second on an error. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Travis Canty’s double.

The Falcons cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first. Kingston Jaramillo led off with a single, and he took second on an error. He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Leland Chacon’s single.

Chacon stole second and scored on wild pitches.

Centauri tied the score in the bottom of the second. Ryder Norton was hit by a pitch, and Grayson Hunzeker walked. Both runners came home on Kingston Jaramillo’s double.

The Mustangs regained the lead with a run in the third. J.D. Faucette reached on a fielder’s choice and he stole second. Colton Reynolds was safe on an error, and Faucette scored on the play.

The Falcons took the lead in their half of the third. Warren Shelton led off with a double, and Rjay Jaramillo followed with a walk. Drake Gallardo also walked, and Erik Garcia was hit by a pitch to drive home Shelton. Rjay Jaramillo scored on Norton’s ground ball to give Centauri a 6-5 lead.

After a scoreless fourth, Sanford regained the lead with a three-run fifth. Lucas Miller reached on an error to lead off the inning and he went to second on a wild pitch. Reynolds singled home Lucas Miller, and Reynolds took second on an error and third on a passed ball. Edgar singled home Reynolds, and after Rylan Mortensen and Gartrell were safe on errors, Jaxon Mortensen was also safe on an error to bring Edgar home and the Mustangs led 8-6.

Centauri answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Shelton led off the inning with a solo home run, and Drake Gallardo walked. Gallardo went to second on Garcia’s groundout and scored on Norton’s single.

Norton took second on an error and scored as Kingston Jaramillo reached on an error and the Falcons took a 9-8 lead.

The Mustangs took the lead back with two runs in the top of the sixth. Faucette walked and stole second and came home as Reynolds was safe on an error. Ryland Mortensen walked, and Gartrell was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Jaxon Mortensen also walked to drive home Reynolds for a 10-9 Mustangs lead.

Dylan Gallardo started the Centauri sixth with a walk, and Shelton hit his second homer to give the Falcons an 11-10 lead. Rjay Jaramillo and Drake Gallardo both singled and advanced on wild pitches. Garcia reached on an error and Rjay Jaramillo and Drake Gallardo both scored on the play.

Norton continued the inning with a single and Hunzeker walked. Kingston Jaramillo also walked to drive home Garcia, and Chacon was safe on an error to plate Norton.

Dylan Gallardo walked to bring Hunzeker home, and Shelton reached on an error to score Kingston Jaramillo and Chacon. Dylan Galardo scored on Rjay Jaramillo’s ground out, and Shelton scored on an error to end the game on the 10-run rule.

Drake Gallardo was Centauri’s starting pitcher but did not figure in the decision. He allowed eight runs and nine hits and he struck out four, walked two and hit one batter. Hunzeker finished the game and took the win allowing two runs and no hits and he had four strikeouts and three walks.

Gartrell started on the mound for Sanford and he too did not figure in the decision. He allowed six runs and four hits and struck out three, walked five and hit two batters. Edgar relived Gartrell in the fifth and took the loss. He gave up 10 runs and five hits with one strikeout, four walks and one hit batter. Jaxon Mortensen finished the game and surrendered four runs and no hits and he struck out one and walked two.

The Falcons had nine hits and were led by Shelton who went 3-5 with a double, two home runs and five RBIs, Norton who went 2-3 with one RBI, and Kingston Jaramillo who went 2-4 with a double and four RBIs.

The Mustangs collected nine hits and were led by Edgar who went 2-4 with one RBI, and Canty who went 2-4 with a double and one RBI.

Centauri (7-3, 0-2) will travel to Cedaredge today for a doubleheader. The first game begins at 11 a.m.

Sanford (5-6, 3-0) defeated Trinidad 21-1 on Wednesday. It will next host a doubleheader with Del Norte on Tuesday with the first game beginning at 3 p.m.

Centauri 20, Sanford 10

Sanford 401 032 – 10 9 6

Centauri 222 03(11) – 20 9 9

Gartell, Edgar (5), J. Mortensen (6) and Edgar, Gartrell (5). Dr. Gallardo, Hunzeker (5) and Chacon. HR – C: Shelton 2 (5^th inn., none on, no outs; 6^th inn., 1 on, no outs).