San Bernardino Valley College baseball coach Jason Kounas paid tribute to his sophomores Thursday afternoon by putting together a starting nine featuring all second-year players.
And while some of them were in positions they hadn't played much of this year, the result was just fine.
The Wolverines pounded out 12 hits, and jumped out to a 6-2 lead after three innings en route to a 12-7 victory in the team's season finale. SBVC finishes the season 16-24 overall and 11-13 in Inland Empire Athletic Conference play.
The teams traded runs in the first inning, but the Wolverines took control in the second. Cesar Ortega - starting at third base instead of his usual spot behind the plate - lined a ball to left-center to lead off the inning. Raul Castro - normally Ortega's back-up, but playing first base in the lineup - followed with a single. Salvador Villanueva - who has pitched as well as roamed the outfield this season - followed putting down a bunt that Victor Valley pitcher Ian Razo bobbled, allowing Ortega to score to give SBVC its first lead. Then, with two outs, Kaleb Castro came up and singled home Villanueva from second to give the home team a 3-1 lead.
Jason Del Villar led off the third with a bang, slamming the ball over the yellow line in left field to extend the lead to 4-1. Andrew Griffin followed with a single and Michael McQueen's single sent Griffin to third. After McQueen stole second, Razo balked, allowing Griffin to score and moving McQueen to third. Ortega drove home McQueen with a sacrifice fly to give SBVC a 6-2 lead.
SBVC added a single run in the fourth and two more in the fifth - matching Victor Valley's three in the fifth - to give the Wolverines a 9-5 lead after five, and they cruised from there.
Starting pitcher Diego Castillo spread out 11 hits over five innings, striking out six Ram players to pick up the win.
All nine starters either had a hit or scored a run in the game for SBVC, as Isaias Espiritu - normally a pitcher - was used as the designated hitter, and with a walk and a run scored. Cy Robertson was 2-for-4 - both hits were doubles - with three runs scored and an RBI. Castro was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two walks, while Del Villar had two RBI in the game. Ortega was also 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.