The Santa Rosa Junior College baseball team (25-11, 13-8) struggled offensively, being shutout 4-0 against College of San Mateo May 2 in the first game of the three-game series in the Regional Playoffs. With this loss the Bear Cubs will have to win two games May 3 in order to stay alive in the playoffs.
“I think small adjustments are the key to bounce back,” said Shortstop Phil Ramos. “For example, stringing more quality at bats together and giving away less free bases.”
It was a game of hard-fought runs as the Bulldogs’ defense squandered the Bear Cubs from scoring in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded.
Ramos singled off.
Second baseman Chase Stafford then hit a sac bunt, advancing Ramos to second. First baseman Weston Bryan then singled, putting Ramos in scoring position.
Pitcher Brett Obranovich then bunted; the ball bounced into his chest, leading the umpire to call him out.
Infielder Taylor Martin reached first base after being hit by the ball, loading the bases.
The crowd was anticipating something big from the Bear Cubs as Infielder Anthony Bender stepped to the plate but they were denied a run after he hit a flyout into center field, ending the inning.
The game was scoreless until the Bulldogs put three runs on the board in the sixth inning.
Getting the momentum started for the Bulldogs was leadoff hitter Dane Vande Guchte with a walk, bringing Makana Lyman to the plate.
Guchte then stole second base.
Lyman then was walked, putting two runners on base. Myles Mastrobuoni then bunted, advancing Guchte to third.
Dylan Isquirdo smashed a two-run single up the middle.
The next play Devin Mahoney singled, advancing Mastrobuoni to second.
Steve Pastora then doubled, bringing in another run, making the score 3-0 CSM in the sixth.
The Bulldogs scored one more run in the eighth inning, when Dominic Orlando hit a one-run single, extending the lead 4-0.
The Bear Cubs needed a good start in the ninth inning to come back in the game. Weston gave them the hope after being walked, bringing Obranovich to the plate.
Weston then advanced to second after a balk.
The crowd cheered when Obranovich hit a nicely thrown ball but it was caught by CSM’s second baseman, making it one out.
Third baseman Taylor Martin then struck out, giving the Bear Cubs one more out to work with. Infielder Mike Reynolds then singled, putting Weston in scoring position, bringing in designated hitter Parker Shaw to the plate. He ended up striking out, ending the game, with the final score 4-0.
The Bear Cubs’ offense struggled all day, scoring zero runs on six hits, leaving eight runners on base and five in scoring position.
Pitcher Kyle Mitchell in his first playoff game, pitched eight- and one-third innings, giving up eight hits, four errors and four walks.
“We have a chance to redeem ourselves,” said assistant coach Tom Francois.
The No. 3 ranked Bear Cubs play the second game of the series against No. 14 ranked College of San Mateo at 11 a.m. May 3.
If they win that game, they will play the tiebreaker game 30 minutes after.
“They were good, we weren’t,” said head coach Damon Neidlinger. “Their guy competed his ass off. The one thing that punishes you here is free bases; we got punished by that. Offensively, [CSM] they did a good job. It’s a two out of three-game series. We’ll show up tomorrow and go at it. Hopefully we’re a lot better.”