Hughson baseball season comes to a close with playoff loss to Capital Christian

Thirty minutes after the last pitch in Hughson’s season-ending 8-2 loss to Capital Christian at Billy Hebert Field, players and fans gathered in front of the Huskies dugout for pictures.

Lots and lots of pictures.

The scene more closely resembled a graduation ceremony than a baseball wake. And why not? The Huskies have plenty to celebrate.

The program, just four years removed from back-to-back five-win seasons, has made three consecutive postseason runs and was the No. 1 seed in this year’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs.

“This program had four coaches in four seasons just a few years back,” said fifth-year coach Mike Bava, the last member of that coaching carousel. “And we were able to win back-to-back league titles for the first time in school history … in more than 100 years.”

If winning back-to-back league championships was tough, winning back-to-back playoff games on the same day is perhaps more difficult.

“We really wanted to win that first game on Saturday,” said Bava, whose club (19-4) fell into an 0-1 hole in the best-of-three series after a 3-2 setback.

In the finale, things got out of hand quickly. Three consecutive two-out walks and a hit batter led to a 1-0 lead, and a two-run single by Marques Buford staked the Cougars to a 3-0 lead. They would add two runs in the second for a 5-0 lead before Hughson cut the deficit on a two-run double by Josh Pack.

But Sacramento-based Capital Christian would add runs in the third, fourth and fifth to put the game out of reach.

“I’m not disappointed,” said senior shortstop Dylan Horner, a four-year varsity member.

Horner, along with catcher Lane Cobb, another four-year varsity player, was instrumental in helping get the program headed back in the right direction.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” said Cobb, the Huskies’ cleanup hitter. “I feel like we helped turn around this program.”

In Wednesday’s first game, Hughson won 8-2 behind a solid pitching performance from junior Grant Williams. The right-hander went the distance, scattering six hits.

Hughson left the bases loaded in the first and fourth innings. For a time, it looked as if those lost opportunities might come back to bit them.

But the Huskies were able to tack on runs in the later innings to put it out of reach.

“Sometimes it’s just hats off to the other team and look to the next inning,” Bava said. “We’re more concerned going out and answering when the other team scores, because good teams are going to make runs, maybe two, just like in basketball.”

Holding a 1-0 lead after one – Horner singled in Dakota Draper – Hughson made it a four-run lead with three in the top of the third.

Williams’ single to right scored Horner, who led off the inning with a double. Cobb, who reached after he was plunked by a pitch, scored to make it 3-0 on Tyren Vargas’ sacrifice fly to center. Williams trotted home with third run of the inning on a wild pitch.

No. 4 Capital Christian (25-5) struck back with two runs off Williams, getting an RBI triple from leadoff hitter Taylor Garcia and an RBI double by A.J. Mendoza.

“My ball got a little bit flat and they were able to square up on some pitches,” Williams said. “But I wanted to go the distance to help save our bullpen.”

Turns out the Huskies would need the bullpen in the nightcap after Vargas was chased in the second inning.

“Section title or not, we’ve laid a foundation for this program,” Horner said. “The title would’ve been a bonus.

“I’m happy.”

This story was originally published May 21, 2015 at 8:58 AM with the headline "Hughson baseball season comes to a close with playoff loss to Capital Christian."