Bobcats finish as state runner-up

The Saddleback baseball team saw its season come to an end at the state finals on Monday at Folsom Lake College.  The Bobcats fell to Santa Ana College, 21-8, to finish as the state runner-up. 

Saddleback had no answers for the Santa Ana offense, who racked up 20 hits in winning their first state title since 1996.  The Bobcats totaled eight runs of their own on 12 hits, doing everything they could to keep pace.  Unfortunately, it wouldn't be enough for the Saddleback faithful that made the trip. 

Santa Ana scored five times in the opening inning, instantly putting Saddleback on the defensive.  The Dons scored four more times in the second inning in grabbing a 9-2 advantage.  Saddleback showed resiliency, scoring three times in the top half of the third inning to cut the deficit to 9-5.  Unfortunately, the cumulative innings for the weekend added up and Saddleback couldn't stop the Santa Ana offense. 

Cole Koniarsky, Isaiah Morales and Jason Hefft led the Saddleback attack, finishing with two hits apiece.  The Bobcats took the opportunity to get nearly every player on the team into the lineup.  Saddleback fans and players erupted when Deacon Nagy entered to pitch in the eighth inning and orchestrated a 1-2-3 inning. 

Saddleback finishes the season 38-13, which is the second most wins in any season for the program.  Saddleback won 39 games back in 1998 when they finished as a runner-up to Sacramento City College.

Saddleback finished the season winning the Orange Empire Conference for a second straight season, which hadn't happened since the program won four straight conference titles from 1981-84.  Saddleback captured its first regional title since 2004. 

Congrats Bobcats!  You gave the fans a ton to cheer about.