SBVC (15-11-1; 10-5) fought their Foothill Conference rivals to a stalemate through the first three innings, then the visitors put up a couple of runs and that's all they would need as the home side fell to the Whittier Rio Hondo Roadrunners (13-11; 8-4), 3-2.
In any other scenario, the fantastic pitching performance by sophomore right handed starting pitcher Mason Jandro (1-3) (Corona Centennial) would have held up, but when a game is played so tight that even wild pitch does grave damage, it's tough to overcome. Jandro's effort was superb, six and a third innings, giving up three runs, all earned on seven hits, walking five and striking out five. Freshman right handed relief pitcher Vincent Flores (Rialto H.S.) dominated the final two and two thirds innings, tossing a one hit gem to finish the game.
The Roadrunners lit up the scoreboard first with two runs in the top of the fourth and a run in the top of the seventh. SBVC would get close with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, sophomore designated hitter Jordan Babbitt (Highland Citrus Valley) led off the inning with a double to center and a balk by the Rio Hondo pitcher put him at third. Freshman left fielder Aaron Gamez (Riverside La Sierra) clobbered a single to center, scoring Babbitt and after a walk by sophomore pinch hitter Breion Barron (Hemet Tahquitz) the Roadrunners coach had seen enough and pulled the starting pitcher. The next batter, sophomore first baseman Connor McCoy (Highland Citrus Valley), would strike out, then the bizarre happened. On the pitch both Gamez and Barron steal the next base, to which the Rio Hondo catcher chucks the just called strike three ball into left field, scoring Gamez. Unfortunately, that would be all for SBVC on the afternoon.
Sophomore short stop Gerardo Torreblanca (Fontana H.S.) went 3 for 4 with a double to center, reclaiming sole possession of first place in the state in extra base hits with 18 and freshman center fielder Billy Reyes (Yucaipa H.S.) went 2 for 4 on the day.
Babbitt went 2 for 4 with a run scored and sophomore third baseman David Osuna (Fontana Henry J. Kaiser) also went 2 for 4.
Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information.