SBVC Baseball drops a close one to the Panthers, 5-3

SBVC Baseball drops a close one to the Panthers, 5-3

SBVC (19-14-1; 14-8) had hopes of playing Foothill Conference spoiler in the final three game series with their intra-County rivals, but to no avail, as the Rancho Cucamonga Chaffey Panthers (25-9; 19-3) took the game, 5-3.

These two teams were engaged in a heavyweight title fight as SBVC had pride on their side and Chaffey had a Conference Championship to try and win outright. SBVC would get out in front early, as they grabbed a run in the bottom of the first when sophomore third baseman and leadoff hitter David Osuna (Fontana Henry J. Kaiser) led off with a double to center and after moving to third on a ground out to the pitcher, came home on a single to left by sophomore short stop Gerardo Torreblanca (Fontana H.S.).

The Panthers would tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the third and take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth, but SBVC would tie the game in the bottom half of the fourth. Sophomore second baseman Anthony Aguila (Redlands H.S.) would lead off the inning with a walk and after a passed ball and sacrifice bunt, Aguila was at third base. Sophomore designated hitter Jordan Babbitt (Highland Citrus Valley) then hit into a fielder's choice and Aguila came charging home, sliding under the tag of the Panthers catcher to tie the game at 2-2.

SBVC would regain the lead in the bottom of the sixth as a leadoff single to center by Aguila chased the Panthers starting pitcher who promptly hit the next batter, sophomore left fielder Breion Barron (Hemet Tahquitz). Babbitt hit a perfect bunt sacrifice to put runners at second and third and a sacrifice fly by sophomore right fielder Jesus Gonzalez (Rialto W.A. Carter), plated Aguila.

Unfortunately, that would be the only runs SBVC would score as the Panthers put across a run in the eighth and a pair in the ninth to take the game.

SBVC received a wonderful pitching performance out of left handed starting pitcher Tyler Penix (Highland Citrus Valley) who tossed a complete game, surrendering five runs, two earned, on six hits, walking three and striking out seven.

Osuna went 2 for 5 with a run scored, both hits were doubles and freshman center fielder Billy Reyes (Yucaipa H.S.) went 3 for 5. Torreblanca went 3 for 5 with a run batted in on the afternoon.

Photo by Pablo Treto.
Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information.