Get the bus ready

The Saddleback baseball team pulled out a thrilling win with a 5-4 victory in 10 innings over College of the Canyons on Sunday at Doug Fritz Field.  Cole Koniarsky drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10^th inning to advance to the state final four in Folsom.

Saddleback and Canyons went tooth and nail for nine innings, and it turned out not to be enough.  The two clubs then went to extra innings before the game was decided.  Canyons took a 4-3 lead in the top half of the inning when they pushed across the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly.  The Bobcats responded with two runs of their own to advance to the state final four at Folsom Lake College next weekend.

Saddleback opened the bottom of the 10^th inning with Michael Davinni drawing a walk to put the tying run on base.  Isaiah Morales was then hit in the foot with a pitch, putting the potential winning run at first base.  Jason Hefft came to the plate looking to get down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over, but an errant throw from the first baseman went into the right field corner and Davinni came all the way around to score the tying run.  With runners on second and third base, Canyons then opted to intentionally walk J.C. Allen to create a force play situation.  It had no effect as Cole Koniarsky hit a blast to the warning track in left-center field to drive in the winning run.

Saddleback started C.J. Zwahlen on the mound, but quickly went to the bullpen and used a collection of pitchers.  Blake Butcher pitched the final three innings of the game in improving to 4-2 on the season.

Saddleback is now 36-11 overall heading to the state tournament.  It is the second straight season the Bobcats have won 36 games in a season and the fourth time overall.

Saddleback will open the state tournament on Saturday against Sierra College (34-13).  The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM.