Cats escape with a win at Folsom

The Saddleback Bobcats baseball team spent at least one of its nine lives in beating Sierra College, 10-9, on Saturday afternoon at Folsom Lake College.  The Bobcats now advance to the winner's bracket game on Sunday after a second straight win in 10 innings.

Saddleback is starting to make the impossible look possible.  In a game with more twists and turns than a roller coaster ride at Magic Mountain, the Bobcats provided yet another thrill ride for the faithful that made the trip to Folsom. 

Saddleback never led in the game until the final play and trailed 9-7 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning in need of some help.  Sierra provided the boost with a wild pitch and error on a foul ball, giving Saddleback and extra out to play with.  The Bobcats made it hurt when Cole Koniarsky singled home Jason Hefft with the tying run.  It was the fourth defensive miscue for the Wolverines, but seemed to be the most costly given the timing.

Saddleback then came to the plate in the bottom half of the 10^th inning with the score tied at 9-9, looking for a run to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.  This time mother nature provided the help when Zachary Schwartzberg came to the plate with runners on first and second and two outs. Schwartzberg hit what was a seemingly harmless ball down the right field line, and instantly you knew it was trouble for the Wolverines as the right fielder lost the ball in the sun.  The ball would fall helplessly to the turf as Isaiah Morales crossed home plate with the winning run.

The game featured two of the better pitching staffs in the state, but on this day it was the bats and gloves that decided the winner.  Saddleback used a collection of pitchers after starter Trevor Eby exited after 2.2 innings and throwing 79 pitches.  The Bobcats then went to a familiar formula, turning the ball over to a collection of arms.  Tyler Byrns pitched four innings before turning the ball over to Ryan Cullinane.  Dylan Blakey then gave 2.1 innings before letting Blake Butcher come in and close the door on the Wolverines in the top half of the 10^th inning.  Butcher would pick up the win and improve to 5-2 on the season.

It was the second straight win in 10 innings for Saddleback after pulling out a win against College of the Canyons last Sunday in the final game of the regional finals.  The Bobcats celebrated the moment with a dogpile out near second base. 

Morales, Koniarsky and Schwartzberg were the offensive stars for Saddleback on Saturday.  Morales finished 3-for-6 with four runs-scored while Koniarsky had three hits and three RBI, including a towering blast over the center field wall in the third inning for his fourth home run of the season.  Schwartzberg continued his clutch hitting with a pair of hits, including the game-winner in the bottom half of the 10^th inning. 

Saddleback advances to the winner's bracket game on Sunday and will face the winner of Santa Ana College and host Folsom Lake College, who play on Saturday night.  The first pitch is tentatively scheduled for 2:00 PM.  A win on Sunday afternoon would put Saddleback into the championship on Monday. 

It was the 37th win for Saddleback (37-11), which is the second most wins in a season in program history.  Saddleback won 39 games in 1998 when it lost in the state finals.