Santa Barbara, Ca. If there was a doubt about the physical, emotional and mental fortitude of the 2023 SBCC Baseball team, those doubts can be put to rest after sweeping the must-win double header against Golden West College on Saturday. The two wins allowed the Vaqs to take the 3-game set 2-1 and move onto the Super Regional at Santa Ana College starting Thursday. The Vaqueros didn't make it easy, but once again showed how their team approach and overall grit allowed them to extend their season and continue to compete for a SoCal and CCCAA state title.
SBCC started things off with their classic "small ball" approach in the 1st inning. A leadoff single by sophomore Daniel Hirose set things up. He was advanced to second on a groundout, and after a flyout, was brought home with an RBI single by freshman Sebastian Arguelles. "We got off to a good start in the first with more 2-out inning," said Head Coach Jeff Walker. That RBI was the Vaqs 11th with 2 outs in the series. "I don't know what it is, but our guys really bear down and focus with runners in scoring position and 2 outs. It's a trademark of a great team."
Although staked to a 1-0 lead early, SBCC would be put to the test as the Rustlers quickly answered with a 3-run top of the 2nd, including some of their own timely hitting with a 2-run single by Rocco Caballero followed by an RBI single by Ulisses Perez, and a sudden 3-1 Golden West lead.
Not to be outdone, the Vaqs quickly answered in the bottom of the 3rd inning. A walk, single, and an error loaded the bases for freshman Patrick Walsh who subsequently delivered an RBI single to the outfield. With the bases still juiced, Carson Cahoy grounded into a fielder's choice to short-stop, bringing in the second run of the inning, and tying the game at 3. The score stayed there through the scoreless 4th and 5th innings, until the Vaqs delivered another run in the bottom of the 6th on an RBI single by sophomore Tyler Imbach. But answering the bell once again, the Rustlers scored in the top of the 7th on a bases loaded HBP, knotting the score at 4 apiece. The score would stay that way until the bottom of the 9th with the series, season and a trip to the Super Regionals on the line.
According to Webster's Dictionary, "small ball" in baseball refers to an offensive strategy in which the batting team emphasizes putting runners on base and then advancing them into scoring positions for a run in a deliberate, methodical way. To sum up the recent run of games for the Vaqueros, one could point to that definition for the descriptor of this baseball team. The bottom of the 9th was no different than that. Freshman Zach Torres got the inning off to the perfect start with an infield hit to the left side. Freshman infielder Daniel Ghiorso then bunted it back to the pitcher, advancing Torres to second base and into scoring position. Hirose then delivered yet another single, but Torres was held at third base, leaving runners at the corners (Hirose would advance to second on catcher's indifference). Up stepped freshman Ethan Watson with the opportunity to advance the Vaqueros into the next round. And the opportunity was seized: Watson hit a looping single into right field allowing Torres to race home from third and plate the winning run, capping off the epic day and sweep of the doubleheader. "Sometimes it's tough not to get ahead of yourself in situations like this," commented Walker. "But we told our guys you have to play them one day at a time. You know, we're not just happy to be here, we want to move on. But at the end of the day, we will always give it our best shot, and hopefully, things work out. Today, they did."
The Vaqs now move on to the Super Regional at Santa Ana College where they will play Cypress College at 11 am on Thursday, May 11th. This marks the 3rd trip to the Super Regionals in the last 7 seasons under Coach Walker. Win or lose, the Vaqueros will play the following day to see if they will advance to the SoCal Regional and a trip to the State Championship. Please check the entire SoCal bracket by clicking the link below.
https://www.cccaasports.org/sports/bsb/2022-23/files/BB_SoCal_1-2.pdf
