Braves batter Mercy on soccer pitch

After Hamilton High freshman Juan Ortiz scored on the first shot of the game, you kind of knew what was to follow.

Six different Braves players scored and it could have been much worse, but Hamilton pulled back in the second half of Thursday's 6-0 shutout of Mercy in Hamilton City.

Playing against an obviously overmatched Warriors squad, the game counted in the Sacramento Valley League standings but amounted to a "friendly" between the two teams, and featured clean play throughout.

Ortiz used the side of his right foot to go far-post on Hamilton's first goal, just a minute in.

Fabian Frutos buried a shot five minutes later, keeping the ball low and driving it to the right past the Mercy keeper.

A minute after that, it was Adrian Chavarria's turn, as he split a pair of Mercy defenders and scored on the breakaway.

Francisco Vargas capped the first-half scoring when he headed in a rebound off a direct kick that had caromed off the crossbar, making the score 4-0 at the break.

Erik Torres and Ricardo Jimenez added goals in the second half, but the Braves past up a number of shot opportunities in both halves, deciding instead to pass the ball to teammates who had not yet scored.

Much of the second half the Braves worked on their passing, choosing to play the ball back instead of dribbling past Mercy's defense.

Chavarria, Angel Montes and Oscar Molinero picked up assists for Hamilton, which improved to 5-3-4 overall and 4-1-2 in league play.

The Braves play at undefeated Esparto (7-0, 9-0-1) on Tuesday.

CONTACT Craig Purcell at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.