Saddleback baseball in danger of missing playoffs
Zach Nuno reflects on the Gauchos’ latest loss. (Leif Kemp)
The Saddleback baseball team lost their sixth straight game last Saturday, falling 7-2 to interdistrict rival Irvine Valley College on the Lasers home field. The Gauchos are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs, and need to win six of their final eight games to remain eligible to continue their season.
In Saturday’s contest, the Lasers came into the fifth inning leading 1-0. The Lasers stretched their lead to 4-0 using three singles, and two hit batsmen off Gaucho hurler Dylan Christensen to produce their runs.
Chasen White then came on to pitch for the Gauchos in the sixth inning and gave up three more runs to the Lasers bringing the score to 7-0 and effectively putting the game out of reach. IVC scored their runs on two more singles, an error, a wild pitch, and one more hit batsmen.
Since giving Coach Jack Hodges his record setting 570th victory at Golden West on March 15 the Saddleback baseball team has won only twice, and is currently mired in a six game losing streak. With their latest loss to the Lasers, Saddleback’s record sits at 12-16 overall, 5-11 in Orange Empire Conference play.
Irvine Valley’s victory improved their record to 15-14 overall, 6-10 in OEC competition.
The Gauchos look to end their current skid and remain in the playoff hunt when they face the Lasers on the Gauchos home diamond tomorrow, April 12. Game time is 2 p.m.