Off to the regional finals

The Saddleback baseball team advanced to the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Regional Finals with a 3-0 win over El Camino College on Saturday at Doug Fritz Field.  The Bobcats will host the regional finals next weekend.

Saddleback needed to win once on Saturday to make it to the regional finals for a second straight season.  The Bobcats silenced the El Camino bats, not allowing a Warrior runner to reach third base the entire game.

Saddleback started C.J. Zwahlen on the hill and he pitched through the fourth inning.  Zwahlen struck out four while spreading around four hits before giving way to the bullpen.  Ryan Cullinane came in for three innings and was nearly perfect.  Cullinane struck out one while pitching through the seventh inning in improving to 4-0 on the season.  Tommy Di Landri and Blake Butcher finished off El Camino, with Butcher picking up his sixth save of the season. 

Saddleback took a 3-0 in the top half of the fourth inning, thanks in large part to a number of defensive miscues from El Camino.  The Bobcats had singles from Isaiah Morales and Jason Hefft to start the inning and J.C. Allen quickly moved them over with a sacrifice bunt.  Cole Koniarsky then reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases.  The Warriors then had problems handing the ball as consecutive errors from the left side of the infield made the score 2-0.  A Jason Wright sacrifice fly then scored Koniarsky with the last run of the inning, but the damage had been done. 

Makani Tanaka was the offensive star for Saddleback.  Tanaka (pictured) finished 3-for-4 on the afternoon.  Isaiah Morales reached base four times, collecting one hit with three bases-on-balls. 

Saddleback is now 34-10 overall following the win.  The Bobcats have won six straight games heading into the regional finals. 

Saddleback will face College of the Canyons, who defeated Grossmont College on Saturday to advance to the regional finals.