Men’s baseball holds until fourth inning but Chargers rally to win
3.3.2011 vs. Cypress College 3 (Austin Messick)
The Saddleback College baseball team opened up 5-0 against the Cypress Chargers last Thursday, but could not keep the momentum going, eventually losing 7-9.
“They’re a very good team, one of the top teams in the state year-in and year-out, and we battled them all the way,” said Gauchos’ coach Jack Hodges. “That’s the way baseball is.”
The Gauchos closed the first inning strong, with Gilbert Viera hitting a double to bring in Tyler Pugmire from second and Elliott Martin who was on first after being hit by a pitch. Mychal Kabeary then doubled to bring in Viera from second base.
In the second inning, Tanner Gore ran in from second to score off of a single by Ryan Forkel. Jeff Butler made it from first to third on Forkel’s single, and then scored off a single by Pugmire.
The Gauchos held the Chargers until the fourth inning, where the Chargers scored three runs. In the seventh inning, the Chargers scored three more runs, and in the eighth inning scored their last three runs.
During the game, four Gaucho batters were hit by pitches thrown by Chargers pitchers Tommy Nance and Joey Rocha. While some Gauchos’ fans were disappointed, coach Hodges wasn’t worried.
“There’s no way they’d be throwing at them,” Hodges said. “Cypress doesn’t do that kind of thing.”
In the fourth inning, Butler took advantage of being hit by a pitch and stole for second while Forkel was at bat. Butler then advanced to third from Forkel’s single, and ran home on a hit from Pugmire.
To close the sixth inning, Butler tripled down the right field line, eventually scoring after Forkel hit a single.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Gauchos replaced starting pitcher Jordan Helmkamp with
Bobby Castellano. Despite the fresh pitcher, the Gauchos were unable to prevent the Chargers from scoring in the eighth inning, where the Gauchos then changed pitchers again. Ian Parvin ended the eighth inning and gave up only one hit during the ninth.
“It was a great Orange Empire conference game. Both sides played well,” Hodges said.
Chargers’ coach Scott Pickler was excited about the victory.
“I’m excited [we won] after being down five,” Pickler said.
This was the first of three Orange Empire Conference games between the Chargers and Gauchos.
3.3.2011 vs. Cypress College 2 (Austin Messick)
3.3.2011 vs. Cypress College 4 (Austin Messick)