|
 2004
Citi California Community Colleges
Commission on Athletics
Baseball Championship
May 30, Fresno,
CA (John Euless Ball Park)
FINAL, GAME 3
SADDLEBACK
10, CYPRESS 4
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SADDLEBACK WINS FIRST
STATE TITLE IN CONFERENCE REMATCH
Saddleback captured its
first baseball state title, beating Cypress, 10-4, in the 2004 Citi California
Community Colleges Commission On Athletics Championship final, Sunday at Fresno
City College's John Euless Ball Park.
The Gauchos (29-12, the
No. 13 seed entering the postseason) were sparked by a four-run 5th inning,
a five-run 7th inning, and another solid pitching performance.
Sophomore RHP Eric Brock
(8-0) tossed a six-hitter - his first complete game as a Gaucho - and allowed
just one earned run, with four strikeouts and five walks.
"Through the fifth
and sixth inning, I started getting a little tired," said Brock, who threw
138 pitches in the game.
"Then, I caught a second
wind, and kept throwing strikes."
Saddleback collected 14
hits off Cypress RHP Taylor Cameron (5-2) and RHP Greg Parcell.
Gaucho leaders included
3B Paul Wilson (3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R), C Jordan Struble (3-for-5, 2B, 2 R,
RBI), and 1B Keahi Kapana (2-for-4, RBI, 2 R, BB).
Saddleback coach Jack Hodges
said today was an all-around clutch performance by his team.
"Hitting has carried
us into this tournament," Hodges said. "But our pitching was great
this weekend."
The championship game featured
the same two Orange Empire Conference schools from 2003, and the Gauchos snapped
a seven-game losing streak against the Chargers.
Cypress (26-14) led 3-1
heading into the top of the 5th inning, before Saddleback scored four runs to
chase Cameron.
After back-to-back RBI-hits
tied the game at 3-3 (SS Clayton Carson double, 1B Keahi Kapana single), 3B
Paul Wilson clubbed a two-out two-run homer to left-center field to grab a 5-3
lead.
Cypress cut it to 5-4 in
the 6th on a two-out RBI-single by RF Willie Sauceda; C Joey Huskins (fielder's
choice, error) scored the third unearned run for the Chargers.
But the Gauchos answered
with a five-run 7th, when they sent nine batters to the plate. The first four
batters reached (Carson walk, Kapana single, Struble RBI-single, Wilson RBI-single),
and the final blow came when lead-off man LF Bryce Carrier singled off the glove
of Cypress 3B Kevin Smith, scoring two runners and giving Saddleback a commanding
10-4 lead.
That was plenty of run-support
for Brock, who finished strong in retiring nine of the last 11 Chargers - including
a championship-cliching 4-6-3 double play.
The Chargers took a 1-0
lead on Smith's opposite-field solo homer to left field in the bottom of the
1st inning.
Cypress went up 2-0 in the
2nd, when Paul Smythe's sac fly scored LF Zach Meredith, who started the inning
with a walk, advanced to third on an error and a wild pitch.
Brock, who played his freshman
season at Golden West College (the South's top seed and 2004 Orange Empire Conference
champion), said he feels good about wearing the Gaucho Cardinal and Gold uniform.
"Three weeks ago it
looked like a bad decision to transfer," he said. "But the decision
looks pretty smart today."
NOTES: Saddleback RHP P.J.
Sandoval was voted Tournament Most Valuable Player after his complete-game win
in the semifinal against Fresno ... Gaucho head coach Jack Hodges wins his first
state title in his 15th season at the helm.
-- Report from the California
Community College Sports Information Association, compiled by Eric Mendoza (Fullerton).
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