SBVC (5-4-1) has had a tough time trying to corral their opponents early, giving up four runs in the top of the first and six runs in the fifth as the Torrance El Camino Warriors (5-3) went on to take the game, 11-7.
El Camino would open up the scoring in the top of the first with a four run barrage, putting SBVC in the hole early, but SBVC would respond with a couple of runs in the bottom of the third. Freshman catcher Ryan Maestas (Rialto W.A. Carter) would punch a one out single to right, advancing to second on a passed ball and coming home on a double by sophomore right fielder Connor McCoy (Highland Citrus Valley). After a strike out and throw to first, advanced McCoy to third base, freshman center fielder Billy Reyes (Yucaipa H.S.) dropped a single into short right field, scoring McCoy and making the score 4-2.
The Warriors would add to their lead in the top of the fifth as they ended the day of SBVC left handed starting pitcher Tyler Penix (Highland Citrus Valley) with a run in and the bases loaded with no outs. Sophomore right handed relief pitcher Steve Mendoza (Fontana H.S.) came into the game and gave up three straight singles, surrendering four runs and was quickly replaced by freshman right handed relief pitcher Evan Aceves (Chino H.S.). Aceves would end the bleeding, but three separate pitchers combined to allow six runs on seven hits in the inning, making the score 10-2.
El Camino would add another run in the top of the sixth, to go up 11-2, but that would be it for them as SBVC received a marvelous long relief appearance by Aceves, who tossed three and a third innings, surrendering one run, unearned, on three hits, walking one and striking out three.
With their work cut out for them, the SBVC offense efforted to cut into the Warriors lead. Sophomore short stop Gerardo Torreblanca (Fontana H.S.) led off the bottom of the sixth with a double, his first of two doubles in the game and tenth extra base hit of the young season. Sophomore designated hitter Breion Barron (Hemet Tahquitz) would get hit by a pitch and sophomore second baseman Anthony Aguila (Redlands H.S.) would load up the bases with no outs, with a single to left. Sophomore pinch hitter Ryan Redford (Corona Centennial) grabbed a bases loaded walk as the Warriors pitcher could not find the plate, scoring Torreblanca from third base and making the score 11-3 with the bases still loaded and no outs. Barron would round third on a balk to make the score 11-4. After a pop up and strike out swinging, McCoy would clobber a single to center, scoring Aguila to make it 11-5.
The SBVC pitching staff continued to confound the Warriors as they shut down El Camino for the rest of the game as freshman right handed relief pitcher Jesse Woods (Riverside John W. North) and sophomore right handed relief pitcher Grant Gooselaw (Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon) would combine to throw a two hit shut out over an inning and two thirds.
SBVC had a bottom of the ninth, two out rally, unseen in a long time as Reyes took a two out single to right and Torreblanca would bring him in on a double to left, making the score 11-6. Then Barron poked a single just over the head of the second baseman to give SBVC first and third with two out. Aguila would follow that up with a single to right, scoring Torreblanca, but that would be it for the home side.
Reyes would go 4 for 5 with a run scored and a run batted in as the two hole hitter and Torreblanca would go 3 for 5 with two runs scored and an RBI in the three hole on the afternoon. In fact, Reyes, Torreblanca, Barron and Aguila would combine for 10 hits and 5 runs, as the 2-3-4-5 batters.
Aguila would go 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI and McCoy would go 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI's.
Photo by Wade Byars.
Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information.