SBVC (15-9-1; 10-3) loaded the bases in the bottom of the 12th and a fielding error by the Whittier Rio Hondo Roadrunners (11-11; 6-4) plated the winning run, 5-4.
SBVC had a chance to blow the game wide open in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with no outs, chasing the Roadrunners starter and with the top of the SBVC lineup set to take their hacks. But the first batter went down on a first pitch pop up to the Rio Hondo first baseman, the second SBVC batter was out on three pitches when the batter struck out swinging and the third batter flied out to first on two pitches.
Rio Hondo would take a one run lead in the top of the ninth, but SBVBC tied it in the bottom of the frame. Freshman second baseman Anthony Lee (Menifee Paloma Valley) punched a one out single to right and freshman left fielder and leadoff hitter, Aaron Gamez (Riverside La Sierra) would push a sacrifice bunt up the first baseline to move the runner. Freshman center fielder Billy Reyes (Yucaipa H.S.) would bring Lee home to tie the game when he crushed a double to left.
SBVC received a wonderful pitching performance out of left handed starting pitcher Tyler Penix (Highland Citrus Valley) who tossed 8 and two thirds innings, giving up four runs, all earned, on nine hits, walking two and striking out five in the no decision. Freshman right handed relief pitcher Jessy Fuerte (Bloomington H.S.) made the most of his long-man role as he threw 3 and a third innings of one-hit relief, walking three and striking out five.
The home side grabbed the victory as lightening flashed and thunder crackled above, while rain pelted the field in the 12th inning. Sophomore short stop Gerardo Torreblanca (Fontana H.S.) led off the inning with a single and sophomore left fielder Anthony Aguila (Redlands H.S.) followed that up with a single. Rio Hondo would intentionally walk sophomore right fielder Breion Barron (Hemet Tahquitz) to load the bases and create a force-out at any base. Then in the hard rain, sophomore third baseman David Osuna (Fontana Henry J. Kaiser) topped a ball with so much spin on it, that the Roadrunners short stop bobbled it twice, giving Torreblanca just enough time to score the winning run.
Aguila went 3 for 6 with a run scored, Reyes went 2 for 6 with a run scored and a run batted in and Torreblanca went 2 for 6 with two runs scored. Sophomore designated hitter Jordan Babbitt (Highland Citrus Valley) went 2 for 5. The 2-3-4 spots went a combined 7 for 18 with four runs scored and an RBI on the rainy afternoon.
Photo by Wade Byars.
Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information.