BUJANDA LEADS PANTHERS AGAINST VALLEY
The Panthers took on San Bernardino Valley yesterday, playing as the home team on Valley's field, falling to the Wolverines 12-5.
Despite a three-run lead after two complete innings, Valley was up 8-3 after four. Play started exciting after Jared Bujanda singled first up to the plate, then stole second and stole home after a Valley error putting the Panthers on the board. Cole Howarth (second up to bat) singled, stole second, advanced to third on an error and then scored on a wild pitch.
In the second, Howarth returned to the plate to knock a double bringing in Emilio Garcia who had reached on a single. The team remained runless until the fifth when Matthew Chavez had a sac fly to rightfield to bring Bujanda across the plate for the second time this game. Bujanda reached on a triple to start the bottom of the inning. Bujanda shot a single in the 6th to bring in Ricky Mejia.
"Credit to SBVC, they came out swinging and didn't stop all game," said Head Coach Smith. "Their starting pitcher's fastball was running up to 95 mph and their reliever did a great job working out of some jams. We need to do a better job in all phases of the game, particularly on the mound."
Thomas Cerecedes started Chaffey out on the mound yesterday, going two innings and taking the loss after giving up five runs in the top of the third. Braden Hofmeyer was the initial reliever followed by Garcia, Rodarte, and Hunt.
The Panthers will host Saddleback tomorrow at Claremont High School and resume IEAC play on Tuesday at Cerro Coso.