(Escondido, CA) The Park University Gilbert baseball team’s postseason hopes were dashed after being swept in the season ending series against Saint Katherine in Escondido. They dropped the final two games today 7-6 and 7-3.
The Buccaneers season is more than likely over as they finish the season with a record of 12-30 overall and a 9-15 mark in California Pacific Conference play. The panel of Cal Pac athletic directors and coaches will convene this evening to select the five teams who will compete in the California Pacific Conference Tournament at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz., May 3-5. The Buccaneers are now in seventh place after this series loss which effectively takes them out of the running.
Game 2 – Saint Katherine 7, Park Gilbert 6
The Buccaneers held the lead, lost the lead, and retook the lead, but ultimately lost it again in the bottom of the ninth, losing 7-6.
This game started yesterday with the Buccaneers taking a 3-1 lead when the game had to be halted at 10 p.m. due to the lights at Escondido High School having to be turned off in its neighborhood.
The Bucs scored its first three runs on a bases loaded walk, an error and a fielder’s choice as starting pitcher Matthew Armendariz threw four strong innings allowing only one run before the game was postponed.
When play returned, Zachary Swanson took the mound and gave up three runs. He had an opportunity to get out of the inning only allowing a run but dumped an underhand toss to first in the dirt for an error which allowed the second run to score before a wild pitch allowed the third run to cross.
Wild pitches would be a theme in this loss for the Bucs when it was all said and done.
Connor Barton came on in the sixth in relief of Swanson and only allowed one run over his three innings of work and gave the Bucs a chance to make the comeback.
It looked like the comeback was happening when the Bucs scored two runs in the eighth to tie the contest at 5-5 as the Bucs scored on a wild pitch and a double play with the bases loaded. They would then take the lead in the ninth as Chris Amador would lead off with a walk and then proceed to steal second. Aaron Stinnett then laid down a sacrifice bunt towards third base which was fielded by the pitcher who made an errant throw which allowed Amador to score the go-ahead run. The Bucs were not able to add any insurance runs after this as Stinnett was thrown out stealing, Diego Bejarano struck out and Joaquin Martinez grounded out.
One of the two Bucs closers Diego Jordan came on in the ninth. Jordan has been dominant in this role this season, but had issues trying to close out the Firebirds. Jordan was able to get the first batter to pop out to second and was ahead of the next batter 0-2 when a pitch got away from him and hit Jacob McCleod. Jordan Frye then followed with a double to right center to put runners on second and third. Skipper Kelly Stinnett would then have the next hitter intentionally walked to load the bases to set up the force play at the plate and put the double play in order.
Park Gilbert would not see another ball in play off the bat of a USK hitter as Jordan uncorked a wild pitch to allow the tying run to score. Then two pitches later, Jordan threw another ball which reached the backstop and the winning walkoff run scored to end the game.
Martinez and Travis Moore each had two hits to lead offensive attack, Jordan takes the loss in relief and falls to 1-2.
Game 3 – Saint Katherine 7, Park Gilbert 3
The Bucs might have still been reeling from the devastation of the walkoff in the previous game as the Firebirds touched up Buccaneer starter Shaun Atamanchuk for three runs in the bottom of the first. He settled in after the rough inning to hold USK scoreless over the next four innings before being touched up for another run in the sixth.
The Buccaneers attempted to make a game of it as they scored a run in the fourth and two more in the eighth to cut the lead to one 4-3. But the Firebirds added three in the eighth to put the game away.
Kevin Whalen had two hits and scored a run. Atamanchuk (2-5) takes the loss.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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