Roundup: Pitman takes two wins over CCAL opponent Downey in Tuesday matchups
Pitman and Downey high schools made what once was a blurry playoff picture much clearer Tuesday afternoon.
The Central California Athletic League opponents were forced to finish two games in one day. That’s because their first matchup of a three-game set, a Downey home game, was stopped in a 4-4 tie after nine innings when the sun set. The second game, scheduled to be on Pitman’s campus, was rained out.
The Pride jumped on the Knights early in the continuation of the first game, scoring three runs in the top of the 10th inning en route to a 7-4 win. The momentum continued in the second matchup, as they completed a sweep with a 7-2 win.
“I was telling the team, I’ve been involved in games like this only a few times, and I think the two times, the team that wins that one inning usually wins both games,” PItman coach Andy Walker said of Tuesday’s unique situation. “Whoever loses that first game, whether it’s them or it’s us, it’s deflating to go out like that. It’s tough — you got one shot and you’re done. And then it’s hard to reset and get back on the second game.”
With the two wins, Pitman secured its second straight CCAL championship and its third straight season of 10 or more league wins.
“Every one of our teams wants to go out and win a league title,” Walker said. “Our league is very good, it’s very competitive. It’s not easy to do.”
The Pride loaded the bases on a hard hit single and a pair of bunts. Marcus Perez broke the 4-4 tie with an RBI single, and Fresno State-bound Andrew Balentine plated a pair of insurance runs with a double.
Balentine faced four batters in the bottom of the 10th and did not give up a hit.
The Pride scored in five of their six offensive innings in the second game, bringing two runners across in the first and sixth innings. Garcia and Balentine each drove in a pair of runs, and four players finished with multi-hit games led by Christian Jacinto’s perfect 3-for-3 outing.
“We always talk to these guys about playing for one every inning and trying to win every inning, putting together competitive at bats every inning,” Walker said. “As long as you do that, you just keep your foot on the gas pedal and you keep pressure on them. It’s easier said than done, especially against a good team like that, but that’s always our goal.
Balentine started the game, striking out a pair in three innings. Brock Fanconi came on in relief to pitch four innings, giving up three hits and striking out seven Knights.
The highlight of the game for the Knights came from the bat of senior shortstop Camden Rush. The Dartmouth signee turned on a 1-0 pitch in the top of the fifth, sending the ball over the left field fence for his second home run of the season.
With the loss, Downey falls in the CCAL standings from second to third. A win in either game played Tuesday would have locked the Knights into second place. While they are projected to make the Division II section playoffs as a No. 10 seed, head coach Justin Schwitters will implore his team to return to the style of play that earned it a 10-2 record over the final two months of the regular season entering the week.
“We just have to play clean,” he said. “We know that (our opponent) is going to be good, and we’ve played a lot of good teams this season. … We just have to throw strikes, we have to put the ball in play, we’ve got to find barrels and have good at bats. It’s really on us. … And if we do that, we have a chance.”
Downey will play Central Valley Thursday in a nonleague tuneup before playoff brackets are announced Saturday, May 6. Pitman has a makeup league game scheduled for Thursday against Modesto High.
Baseball scores
Escalon 12, Modesto Christian 5: The Crusaders struck first, scoring a run in the top of the opening inning, but the Escalon offense came through late. The Trans-Valley League’s third-place team scored nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break the game open. Ray Corral finished with three hits and two walks for the Crusaders.
Ripon 3, Hilmar 1: Dawson Downs went the distance and struck out 10 in Ripon’s first matchup of the week against Hilmar. At the plate, the junior had a double and a triple. Ripon, the TVL first place team, plays its final league game Thursday.
Softball scores
Mariposa County 10, Ripon Christian 2: Shelby Terra had a double and an RBI in the sixth inning, but two runs were all the Knights could score against Mariposa’s solid pitching. The Knights play three final league games.
Central Catholic 23, Sierra 0: Jazmarie Roberts, Madison Harrison and Emry Couch each hit home runs and Harrison and Couch drove in six runs apiece as the Raiders’ offense exploded against the Timberwolves. Freshman Amaya Gustavis struck out six in a complete game effort.
Gregori 16, Pitman 3: Kailey Estes struck out 14 batters in seven innings, surrendering just four hits while hitting .800 with a home run and five RBIs. Chloee Hoffman added two home runs and Kylee Huff added a long ball. UCLA signee Addie Mettler continued her outstanding offensive season, hitting her sixth home run and driving in two RBI’s.
Le Grand 12, Waterford 0: Le Grand pitchers struck out 11 Wildcats and surrendered just one hit, shutting out the SL’s fifth place team. Waterford finishes the regular season with three league games.
