College notebook: SRJC baseball rises to No. 4 in state, stays atop Big 8 standings

The Santa Rosa Junior College baseball team won its series over No. 19 Sacramento City last week, taking two of three games to once again rise in the state rankings.

The Bear Cubs were 27-8 overall and held a one-game lead atop the Big 8 standings entering the second of three games against Folsom Lake on Thursday. They also jumped from No. 6 to No. 4 in this week's California Community College Athletic Association poll.

The Bear Cubs beat Sacramento City 9-2 in last week's opening game, lost 2-0 in the second game and then came away with a marathon 8-5 win in 16 innings in the rubber match on Friday.

Sac City scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth of that game to force extra innings, but Chase Sutherland broke the 5-5 tie with an RBI double in the top of the 16th. Anane Wilson followed with a two-run double to extend the lead.

Evan Sandoval was integral in the win, pitching 6 2/3 shutout innings out of the bullpen with four strikeouts, two walks and one hit allowed. He also pitched two scoreless innings in the 9-2 win. For his performance, he was named CCCBCA Pitcher of the Week.

The Bear Cubs began their series against No. 25 Folsom Lake with a 3-2 walk-off win Tuesday. Folsom had tied the game 2-2 in the top of the ninth before Aiden Sakai won it in the bottom half with a sac fly. Sakai had two hits and two RBIs in the game.

The Bear Cubs wrap up their series against Folsom Lake at home on Friday before heading into a potential league-clinching series to end the regular season against No. 9 Modesto next week, which was just a game back of SRJC heading into Thursday.

Track and field

It was another strong showing for the Bear Cubs at the Jim Linthicum Invitational at De Anza last week.

The men had several outstanding individual performances, highlight by sprinter Gentle Edwin, who won two events. In windy conditions, he ran to a time of 11.23 seconds in the 100 and 22.95 in the 200. He also helped the 4×100 team to a second-place finish in 42.89.

Oscar Cruz posted three top-five finishes in the throws, placing third in the javelin (130 feet, 6.75 inches) and fourth in the both the shot put (40-03.75) and discus (118-09.5). Mahdi Camara also placed second in discus (139-09.5).

In jumps, Charly Ramirez placed second in the pole vault (13-09.25) and Isaac Mulder took third in the long jump (19-10.75).

On the women's side, Amanda Hart took second in the shot put (35-04.25) and Grace Shaw placed fourth in the shot put (33-07) and sixth in the hammer throw (104-02.25).

Softball

The Bear Cubs fell to state No. 1 San Mateo in a nonconference meeting last week but bounced back for a 6-5 win over Diablo Valley on Tuesday.

The Bear Cubs have gone 13-6 since the start of March and are now 20-14 on the year and 12-9 in the Big 8, sitting in a tie for third in the standings with Folsom Lake.

In the win over Diablo Valley, Mia Avila and Alyssa Rivers each drove in two runs on a hit and Mia Olvera had two hits with two runs scored.

The Bear Cubs have just three games left in the regular season. They'll host Sacramento City in a doubleheader Saturday before their regular-season finale Tuesday at home against No. 6 San Joaquin Delta.

Beach volleyball

The Bear Cubs split their Big 8 matches last week, falling 5-0 to American River but bouncing back for a 5-0 win over Sierra.

In the victory, No. 1 Katie Davis and Lily Comma won 21-15, 18-21, 15-12, No. 2 Amber Smart and Luka Amand won 21-16, 19-21, 15-12, No. 3 Jaiden Brooner and Kiana Walker won 19-21, 21-14, 15-7, No. 4 Stephanie Melendez and Nyejzniya Krohn won 21-14, 21-13 and No. 5 Issa McIninch and Lily Seidler won 21-11, 21-9.

The Bear Cubs are 13-8 on the year and 6-8 in the Big 8 heading into their final regular-season matches of the year against Folsom Lake and Marin on Friday.

SRJC Schedule

Friday, April 17

Women's beach volley vs. Folsom Lake, Marin, at College of Marin, 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.

Baseball vs. Folsom Lake, 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 18

Softball vs. Sacramento City (doubleheader), noon, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, April 21

Men's and women's track and field at Big 8 conference championship trials, San Joaquin Delta College, 10 a.m.

Baseball at Modesto, 2 p.m.

Softball vs. San Joaquin Delta, 3 p.m.

Thursday, April 23

Men's and women's track and field at Big 8 conference championship finals, San Joaquin Delta College, 10 a.m.

Baseball vs. Modesto, 2 p.m.

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