Delta's Big 9th Pushes Them To State Title Game Against OCC

By John Van Gaston, Sports Information

Live Broadcast

State Championship Brackets

Game 5 – May 25, 2014 – John Euless Ballpark - 5:50 p.m.
#1N San Joaquin Delta "Mustangs" (35-10) def. #2N College of the Sequoias "Giants" (34-13), 11-3

FRESNO – With runners on first and third base in the bottom of the eighth inning with the game tied at 3-3, College of the Sequoias was in good position to send themselves into the California Community College Athletic Association baseball state championships against Orange Coast College. But Rudy Navarro grounded into a double play to end the threat for the Giants. San Joaquin Delta College, riding the momentum of the defensive gem, went on to score eight unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning and secured an 11-3 win. The Mustangs (35-10) will now take on the Pirates (35-9) in a rematch of the 2009 state championship, with Orange Coast coming out on top.

In the ninth inning, College of the Sequoias (34-13) committed three errors to help aid Delta, which needed only four hits to amass their run total. With two outs and runners on first and second base, CJ Owens hit a ground ball that Giants second baseman Ross Feely looked to knock down and keep in front of him to prevent the lead runner from scoring. However, when he slid to control the ball, he kicked it down the right field line, allowing Andrew Urbistando to score. That started a downward spiral for Sequoias, who saw shortstop Nick Stoll throw away a ground ball by Phil Clark, which brought in two more runs. Then, with the bases loaded, Urbistando slapped out a two-run single, and when first baseman Joey Gallegos threw the ball away trying to cut down the runner at third, it enabled all hands to score.

San Joaquin Delta turned to middle reliever Alex Lott to get them into the championships, and he tossed six solid innings, allowing three runs (one earned) and struck out five batters. Eric Sandness (1-0) earned the win with two innings of work, while Chris Sauls tossed the ninth. For Sequoias, usually reliable Gene Cachu (9-2) was charged with five runs (all unearned) in 2/3 innings in that fateful ninth inning.

At the plate, Owens went 3-for-5, while Connor Torres and Urbistando each had a pair of hits.