Kristopher Hooks | Sports Editor | [email protected]
Panthers forced to wait for playoff spot and seeding
While City College baseball — who will miss the playoffs for the first time in 35 years — was at Union Stadium trying to end its season on a winning note yesterday afternoon against Modesto, the softball team was playing the Delta College Mustangs in a battle for a potential playoff spot.
The Panthers defeated the Mustangs 8-5 in seven innings April 21 in both teams’ final game of the regular season and the sophomores’ final home game at City College.
The deciding factor in the game was the pressure the Panthers’ runners put on the Mustangs’ infielders while on base. The Mustangs had multiple throwing errors in the fourth and fifth innings, which led to three unearned runs. During the two innings, the Mustangs seemed overwhelmed with the speed from the Panthers’ base runners. The Panthers — who are second in the state with 115 stolen bases — finished the game with five stolen bases.
“We put pressure on them, and that’s our game,” said head coach Tim Kiernan. “We’re going to run on every catcher that we face. They better be as good as our catcher, or we’re going to run on them.”
Although the Panthers’ pitchers finished strong, the first inning began with a struggle. The Mustangs got on the board first when first baseman Haylee Moran-Rowan advanced and slid into home plate after a wild pitch from Panthers’ start Jostyn Bebout.
According to Kiernan, the wild pitch was caused by miscommunication between the catcher and pitcher after they both read his sign wrong. Despite the hiccup, Bebout was able to get out of the inning with two runners stranded on base.
After three scoreless innings, the Panthers finally got things rolling in the fourth. The team got an unearned run from Erikka Burke after Mustangs’ shortstop Taylor Barsi threw home too late. Three batters later, designated hitter Bianca Mosley hit a two-run double and put the Panthers on top 3-1.
Delta’s defensive mishaps continued into the bottom of the fifth, as two of the four runs allowed unearned runs from throwing errors. To tame the Panthers’ momentum, the Mustangs changed pitchers, but the damage was already done. The Panthers took advantage of the extra base runners, and scored two more runs in the inning to take a 7-1 lead.
City College’s last run of the game came off shortstop Kailey Olcott’s team-leading 10th homerun of the season. In her previous three at-bats, Olcott struck out twice and reached first base on a fielder’s choice.
The cosmetic surgeon would recommend series of tests that your doctor conducts to find the severity of your problem. cialis india price From past few years there are a lot changes and advancements happened in the viagra for sale mastercard medical field. Elderly patients are firmly encouraged to stick to the prescribed dosage as consumption in increased dosages will have no change in its effectiveness but also could result in the occurrence of dangerous side effects. http://valsonindia.com/valson-india-annual-report/ cialis 10 mg Vitality, put simply, delivers on cheapest viagra price every front when it comes to purchasing hoists, one shouldn’t compromise on safety and quality parameters at any cost. “That makes up for the three worst at-bats I’ve had this year,” said Olcott with a shrug and a smile to teammate Burke after Olcott crossed the plate.
Delta tried to rally back in the top of the seventh and scored off a two-run double from left fielder Victoria Mata. The runs forced Kiernan to pull a tired Bebout for a fresh-armed Morgan Welch.
“I just thought we needed a change in there,” said Kiernan. “We’ve done that all year with both of them. I think together they have about eight saves.”
Two batters later, after taking the circle, Welch allowed a two-run single to Arianna Hernandez. However, the runs didn’t seem to phase her, and she struck out the last batter she faced to end the game.
The victory put the Panthers in fourth place in the Big 8 Conference and fifth in California Community College Athletic Association’s Nor Cal power rankings, while the Mustangs dropped to fifth in the conference and seventh in rankings.
Although the final seeding for playoffs won’t be announced until this weekend, Kiernan said that his team has done everything it could down the stretch to prove that it deserves a spot, including defeating a Delta team who had beaten the team in its previous two meetings.
“We don’t officially know, because we’ll have to make it as an at-large team,” said Kiernan. “I would say, I’d be really surprised if we don’t, because we’ll have more wins than [Delta]. They might get in, but they won’t jump us.”
For more stats and information about City College softball, visit http://sccpanthers.losrios.edu/sports/sball/index
