The Bobcats got out to an early lead and never trailed, in a 17-10 victory over the Hornets at Hornet Field on Tuesday. Fullerton and Saddleback came into Tuesday’s game in a tie for third place in the Orange Empire conference standings at 6-6. The winner of this game would have a leg up in the race.
Saddleback got off to a hot start, as they scored five runs in the first two innings. The Bobcats had two big innings. They scored four runs in the fifth inning after leading 5-3 through four. Fullerton starting pitcher Will Valenzuela’s defense was unable to make plays behind him. After an infield single by Bobcats third baseman Jacob Hudson, right fielder Jack Borges stepped into the batter’s box.
Borges placed a sacrifice bunt over to Valenzuela, but Hornets first baseman Carlos Barrios was unable to secure the ball in his glove. That led to an error and two runners on.
Head Coach Chad Baum and his coaching staff took their hats off while looking down at the ground. The infielders had their heads down after being unable to record the out. Baum has seen this before, where his team continues to make mistakes on the field. He tried to stay calm and composed, hoping that his team would manage to get out of the jam with no runs.
“It’s something that we’re struggling with. For some odd reason, it usually happens when guys don’t play, then they’re in the dugout, and they’re feeling sorry for themselves. They’re happy when we do good, and sad when we don’t, and the kids today are not very tough,” said Baum.
It did not get any better, as Saddleback second baseman Joey Doskocil placed down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third. The Hornets made another error as Viola threw over to first base, but second baseman Coen Goeas could not handle the hop on a throw in the dirt.
Baum came out to discuss with the first base umpire, saying that it was on the transfer. He asked the base umpire to check with the home plate umpire to see if he saw something else, but to no avail. Baum was trying to find any break or bounce they could get.
Valenzuela got behind in the count 3-1 to Bobcats catcher Andrew Bertolette, before walking Bertolette with the bases loaded for a run.
Baum visited the mound to calm down Valenzuela and the infielders. Fullerton was able to get a much-needed defensive play from Goeas. The first pitch to designated hitter Carter Enoch was ripped to second baseman Goeas. Goeas made a leaping catch on a liner, then threw it over to shortstop Diego Vazquez at second base for a double play. The bench and fans were loud and rowdy after the play. Hornet players were telling Valenzuela one pitch at a time.
The Bobcats were able to add three more runs with two outs. Shortstop Cole Strane roped a 2-run RBI double to left, as it went off the outstretched glove of Hornets left fielder Sean Green to the wall. Saddleback left fielder Dmitri Susidko smoked an RBI double down the left field line to make it 9-3.
“They’re a good team, and [Valenzuela] hasn’t pitched as well as he can. He’s leaving a lot of balls, middle of the plate and missing, and not doing something that he’s done a lot early in the season,” said Baum.
The Hornets were able to cut into the deficit. In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Fullerton scored five runs. Left fielder Green ripped an RBI single to right field to bring home the third run of the inning. That was followed by first baseman Barrios, who went after the first pitch. He cue shot an inside pitch that stayed fair down the right field line for an RBI single, scoring Luke Viola.
After being behind in the count 1-2, designated hitter Niko Mendez was able to come through with a hit. Third base coach Aaron Rowand told him to just trust it, and Mendez did, as he lined an outside fastball through the left side for an RBI single, driving in Green. That made it 9-8.
“[Rowand] wants me to stay short and to my ability, hit the ball the other way, and I kind of knew they were throwing me outside a lot, I trusted my hands, and they were throwing me a lot of change-ups, but they left a fastball up,” said Mendez.
In the bottom of the seventh, with Fullerton trailing 10-8, they cut into the deficit once again. After a walk to center fielder Vinny Hudson, Goeas came up to the plate with two outs. Baum decided to go with a hit-and-run situation. Goeas executed it to perfection, as Hudson was on the move, stealing second base before the pitch.
Goeas blooped it into right center field for a hit. Hudson made it to third base standing up. He rounded the base looking to score, but Bobcats third baseman Jacob Hudson cut the ball. Jacob Hudson threw it over to shortstop Strane, covering third base at the time, but his throw went into left field. Vinny Hudson scored on the play, while Goeas advanced to third.
Saddleback put the game away for good in the ninth inning. Leading 11-9, Fullerton relief pitcher Mason Smith walked the first batter and got two consecutive groundouts. After a wild pitch to move the runner up to third, Smith got second baseman Doskocil on a groundball to third. Viola made a diving play, but his throw went wide of first and out of play, and a run scored.
The Bobcats were able to capitalize on that extra out, as catcher David Vergel de Dios hit a moon shot over the left field wall for a 2-run homer to extend the lead.
Viola looked over to the dugout, and Baum stared over in disgust. After a double and a walk, Bobcats left fielder Susidko hammered a 2-run RBI double to left-center. Then, first baseman Matthew Henning drove in a run with an RBI single to left, making it 17-9.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, center fielder Vinny Hudson torched a solo home run to left field for the final tally of 17-10.
Fullerton will travel to Saddleback on Thursday for game two of a three-game series. Game Time is at 2 p.m.
