SBVC (19-12-1; 14-6) was desperate for a victory to keep their post season hopes alive and they received it in a big way as the team pounded out 18 hits and scored early and often, torpedoing the Barstow Vikings (11-21; 8-12), 13-7.
SBVC finds themselves in an interesting situation going into the final four games of the season, with one more game remaining at Barstow, before hosting the first place Rancho Cucamonga Chaffey Panthers two out of the remaining three games. SBVC is three games back of Chaffey with four to play, with second place Rio Hondo in their way. In addition, Rio Hondo is red hot, having won 14 of their last 15 games and are going for the three game sweep of the Panthers on Saturday. There should be fireworks to say the least when SBVC hosts Chaffey on April 26th and 29th, but SBVC still has to win at Barstow on Saturday to hold onto that potential post season berth.
Freshman right handed starting pitcher Chris Rocco (5-3) (Fontana Jurupa Hills) was absolutely incredible as his battery mate, freshman catcher Ryan Maestas (Rialto W.A. Carter), called a great game. Rocco tossed seven complete, surrendering two runs, both earned, on seven hits, walking one and striking out eight. Freshman left handed relief pitcher Andrew Schaner (Norco H.S.) threw an inning giving up a hit, walking two and striking out one in a good effort, then the wheels on the cart started to wobble as three different pitchers attempted to close out the top of the ninth. Those three pitchers combined to toss one inning of relief, giving up five runs, none earned, on two hits, walking four and striking out two.
Thankfully, the SBVC offense had already put the Vikings in such a deep hole that climbing out was impossible. The 2-3-4-5-6-7 batters for SBVC combined to go 15 of 26 with 12 runs scored and 12 runs batted in.
SBVC led off the scoring in the bottom of the first, as they scored two runs on four consecutive singles. Freshman center fielder Billy Reyes (Yucaipa H.S.) hit a one out single to center, sophomore short stop Gerardo Torreblanca (Fontana H.S.) hit a single to right and sophomore left fielder Breion Barron (Hemet Tahquitz) hit a single to right as Reyes came home. Sophomore designated hitter Jordan Babbitt (Highland Citrus Valley) hit a single to center as Torreblanca scored, giving SBVC an early 2-0 lead.
SBVC would score another run in the bottom of the fourth, when Maestas hit a double to center and sophomore first baseman Connor McCoy (Highland Citrus Valley) hit a single back up the middle to score Maestas, giving SBVC a 3-0 lead.
Then the flood gates opened as SBVC would bring nine men to the plate in the fifth inning scoring four runs and giving SBVC a 7-0 lead. In the sixth, SBVC scored another four runs, to take a commanding 11-0 lead. Barstow would avoid the shut out with a couple of runs in the top of the seventh, but SBVC would get those two runs back in the bottom of the frame, giving the home side a 13-2 lead.
Then the top of the ninth happened, as SBVC attempted to close out the game, Barstow would send 12 men to the plate, as the Vikings scored 5 runs on two hits, stranding three and SBVC did themselves no favors as they committed three fielding errors in the inning.
Reyes went 3 for 4 with four runs scored and a walk and Torreblanca went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and a walk. Barron went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, two RBI's and two walks and Babbitt went 3 for 5 with two runs scored and three RBI's in the win. Sophomore second baseman Anthony Aguila (Redlands H.S.) went 2 for 5 with a run scored and five RBI's and sophomore right fielder Jesus Gonzalez (Rialto W.A. Carter) went 2 for 5 with two RBI's on the afternoon.
Photo by Wade Byars.
Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information.