SBVC (7-8-1; 2-2) finally achieved the career victories mark for head coach Bill Mierzwik that many had been waiting for and for good measure, knocked off the Victorville Victor Valley Rams (1-14; 0-4), 8-1.
Coach Mierzwik entered the 2016 season standing at 593 career victories and after the team started the season 4-0 it looked to be a forgone conclusion that it was only a matter of days that record would fall. On Saturday, it finally did and what the fans received for their attendance was a fantastic pitching performance by left handed starting pitcher Tyler Penix (3-1) (Highland Citrus Valley) and the 13th extra base hit by sophomore short stop Gerardo Torreblanca (Fontana H.S.) to lead the state.
The Rams opened up the scoring in the top of the second on a two out double to left, giving Victor Valley an early 1-0 lead. The lead would be short lived as SBVC tied the game up in the bottom of the frame, when sophomore second baseman Anthony Aguila (Redlands H.S.) grabbed a leadoff walk, followed by a walk by sophomore designated hitter Breion Barron (Hemet Tahquitz), then freshman catcher Mike Quinonez (San Bernardino Cajon) absolutely crushed a two out triple to left, scoring Aguila.
SBVC would go ahead for good in the bottom of the third, when freshman left fielder Aaron Gamez (Riverside La Sierra) collected a one out walk, then stole second base, then stole third base, and finally came home on an error by the Rams catcher.
In the bottom of the fourth, SBVC tacked on two more runs as Barron led off the inning with a double to right and then sophomore right fielder Jesus Gonzalez (Rialto W.A. Carter) seized a walk, which chased the Rams starter. Sophomore third baseman David Osuna (Fontana Henry J. Kaiser) would hit a bunt sacrifice down the first base line to advance the runners and Quinonez clobbered a double to left scoring two runs, giving SBVC a 4-1 lead.
SBVC would blow the game open in the bottom of the fifth as four runs crossed home plate, with freshman center fielder Billy Reyes (Yucaipa H.S.) leading off the inning by reaching on an error by the Rams third baseman. Reyes stole second base, then scored on a double by Torreblanca, which set up a single to left by Aguila, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Barron would reach on an error, scoring Torreblanca, giving SBVC a 6-1 lead. After a bad bunt attempt by SBVC, the Rams first baseman attempted to double up Barron at second and threw the ball into center field. Osuna then punished a double to center, scoring Aguila and Barron.
Photo by Wade Byars.
Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information.