Bobcats get the 2-seed, host LBCC
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Long Beach | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
|
Saddleback | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 0 |
The Saddleback baseball team found out it will be the 2-seed for the upcoming 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs at the regional seed meeting on Sunday. The Bobcats will host Long Beach City College (LBCC) in the opening round and play at home for the entirety of regional play.
Saddleback and Long Beach City open a three-game series on Friday, with either one or two games being played on Saturday. The Bobcats and LBCC last met during the 2022 campaign in a regular season game.
Saddleback (29-10) enters the playoffs on a high note after beating Riverside City College on the final day of the season to win the Orange Empire Conference (OEC). The Bobcats played some of their best baseball down the stretch, winning seven of the final eight games in rallying for the OEC title.
Long Beach City (20-20) finished in third place in the South Coast Conference, going 16-8 in SCC play. The Vikings also finished hot, winning their final four games of the season.
Despite being close in proximity, Saddleback and Long Beach City have a limited history. The two programs have played just 14 times in the 55-year history of the program, with Saddleback holding a 10-4 advantage. The Bobcats and Vikings met last season on February 18 with Saddleback winning, 10-8. The two programs last met in the playoffs in 2017 when the Vikings edged Saddleback 2-1 in a three-game series.
Both programs have won one state championship since the turn of the century, with Saddleback winning the title in 2004 and Long Beach City winning in 2006. LBCC was a baseball power back in the 50's, 60's and 70's, winning four state titles from 1954-74.
The series starts on Friday, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:00 PM. A start time for the game on Saturday has been set for 2:00 PM. A game three would be played afterwards, if necessary.
Tickets for the CCCAA playoffs are available at https://saddlebackbobcats.com/athletics/Event_Tickets
The price is $12 for general admission and $8 for identified students, faculty, staff, senior citizens age 60-and-over, and children less than 12 years of age.