PC wins last game ever at Myers, Fresno-bound
| Final (11) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
SAN MARCOS (5-17-2015) -- Palomar made its final appearance ever at ancient Myers Field a memorable one, beating Saddleback 4-3 in 11 innings to sweep the team's best 2-of-3 Sectional series 2 games to 0 to qualify for next weekend's State Championship Final Four.
The Comets, visitors on their own field, got nine innings of four-hit pitching from starter Jake Barnett, who struck out five and walked one before leaving the game after nine inning with the score tied 3-3. Barnett retired the last 11 Saddleback batters he faced.
Rusty Huber (4-0) shut out the Gauchos in the 10th and 11th innings to notch the win.
Palomar scored the winning run in the top of the 11th after Saddleback reliever Trevor Charpie tried to pitch around Francis Christy and walked him. Travis Mitchell moved Christy to second with a sacrifice bunt.
Vince Mori drove in Christy with what turned out to be the game-winner when he singled to right centerfield.
Anthony Balderas went 2-for-4 with a pair of infield hits as the Comets made the most of six hits. Chris Stratton and Alec Salcedo each drove in a run with a double. Dylan Brault added a single.
The right side of the infield, with Stratton at second and Balderas at first, made a series of spectacular defensive plays. Derek Black, who replaced Balderas at first after Sam Casinelli pinch ran for Balderas in the top of the ninth, also had a big defensive play when he made an acrobatic pick of a throw coming across the infield for out No. 2 in the Saddleback 11th inning.
The nationally No. 2-ranked Comets (36-6) , making their second appearance ever in the Final Four after finishing second in the state in 2005, will play their first game on Saturday night against tournament host and nationally No. 9-ranked Fresno City College (35-9) at the Rams' John Euless Ballpark. The Rams swept their Sectional series from Feather River 2-0.
Nationally No. 1-ranked San Joaquin Delta (39-5), which eliminated College of San Mateo 7-2 on Sunday, will play the noon game to open the tournament against Orange Coast (27-17), which eliminated Santa Barbara City College 10-2 on Sunday.
Saddleback finished its season 27-16.
http://www.palomar.edu/athletics/
photo by Hugh Cox