It’s the bottom of the ninth. Two on base. Two outs. Fans cross their fingers as Santa Rosa Junior College pitcher Anthony Bender throws one last pitch. Finally, a popup by outfielder Jake Raynaud ends in a catch by first baseman Weston Bryan to give the Bear Cubs a Mother’s Day victory.
The Bear Cubs (13-8, 27-12) started the three-game series out with a loss of 3-1 on May 9.
“Sometimes you’re on the short hand of the stick,” said head coach Damon Neidlinger after the game.
With no score up until the sixth inning, the Bear Cubs scored the first run of the game off of a sac fly by left fielder Dane Erbst, which brought in center fielder Matt LoCoco.
However, Cabrillo managed to score three runs in the top of the seventh inning, robbing SRJC of a win.
After working so hard, the Bear Cubs were disappointed, yet knew the only thing to do was leave the loss behind and prepare for what was next.
“The bottom line is we have to play clean baseball, minimize errors,” said assistant coach Tom Francois.
The Bear Cubs came back to Cook Sypher field May 10 ready to make a comeback.
Center fielder Matt LoCoco lead off SRJC’s hitting streak with a single to leftfield in the top of the first inning. It just got better from there.
The Bear Cubs scored two runs in the second inning with the help of left fielder Dane Erbst, catcher Spencer Neve and right fielder Zeke Colby.
SRJC scored another run the next inning with the help of a sac fly by Colby to bring designated hitter Anthony Bender back home.
The Bear Cubs’ offense exploded even more in the fifth inning, putting an additional five runs on the board. Players who contrbuted hits include Bender, Neve, Colby, second baseman Chase Stafford, and third baseman Taylor Martin.
Another run came in the top of the seventh inning when Martin hit a double to bring in Erbst.
The eighth inning brought in another four runs with the help of LoCoco, Stafford, first baseman Weston Bryan, Erbst, Bender and Neve.
The game ended as a 13-0 shutout for the Bear Cubs.
SRJC’s offense was not the strong aspect of the game. The defense thirved as well.
Starting pitcher Kyle Michell pitched an outstanding eight innings, only giving up two hits to the Seahawks.
“I try to compete in the zone, [and] it my spots,” Mitchell said.
Alex Perez closed out the game on the mound, not giving up a single hit.
“We’re going to try to come out and do the same thing [tomorrow],” Mitchell said.
Finally, it was the game that everyone waited for; the game that put every coach, every player, and every fan on their toes. Game 3 had finally arrived.
Mirroring the patterns of Game 2, LoCoco lead off with the first hit of the game for the Bear Cubs, a single out to leftfield.
Things got a little shaky for the Bear Cubs in the top of the second inning, when starting pitcher Brett Obranovich gave up a single to shortstop Matthew Valdez. Valdez stole second later in the inning.
Outfielder Naz Thibodeaux then hit a single down the leftfield line to bring Valdez home and give a 1-0 lead for the Seahawks.
However, the Bear Cubs never gave up.
In the bottom of the second, Erbst lead off with a single to leftfield. Neve followed to bring him in with a double to centerfield, tying the score.
In the third inning, shortstop Phil Ramos hit a single to left field, and managed to steal second base while Stafford stood at the plate.
Starting pitcher Ryan Capozza hit Bryan in the leg later in the inning, letting him advance to first base. However, Bryan and Ramos were both left stranded after a grounder by Erbst.
After a few more runless innings, the eighth inning gave the Bear Cubs just what they needed.
It all started with a single down the leftfield line from Bryan. Erbst then advanced him to second with a sac bunt.
Finally, Bender stepped up to the plate and hit a double, bringing in Bryan and giving SRJC a 2-1 lead.
The crowd became anxious again in the top of the inning when Bender walked first baseman Lucas Hewitt.
He then hit catcher Josh Thorpe in the back of the shoulder.
With two on base and two outs on the board, the Bear Cubs only need one more out to win. Luckily, they got just that. One popup did it all.
After the catch by Bryan, the whole crowd erupted with excitement, hugs and joyful tears as the players jogged out to high-five each other on the field.
The team doesn’t look at the victory as mere luck, but more as a result from their hard work.
“I always say luck is when preparation meets oportunity,” Francois said.
After scoring the winning run of the game and closing out the ninth, Bender left a positve mark on the game.
“Make a good pitch, make a good play,” is what Bender told himself in his mind to bring his team the most success possible.
Each player gave his mother a flower after the victory, in honor of Mother’s Day.
The Bear Cubs will play in the Sectionals round on the weekend of May 16. Times and opponents are to be announced.