The El Camino College Warriors baseball team swept the Saddleback College Bobcats on Saturday, May 3, at Warrior Field to advance to the second round of the 3C2A SoCal Regional Playoffs.
The Warriors previously took Game 1 of the series of a score of 11-6, on Friday, May 2 in a tough game against the Bobcats.
Key performances from players Dylan Mares and Lucas Bonham, along with strategic pitching changes, were crucial to their success Saturday.
While the Bobcats gave the Warriors a scare in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Warriors rallied back to win 7-4, advancing to the second round of the 3C2A SoCal Super Regionals.
Before the game, Warriors coach Grant Palmer shared his strategy heading into the second playoff game.
“We’re just kind of taking it one game at a time. We got the first one yesterday and now it’s all hands on deck for Game 2 and do whatever we can to win,” Palmer said.
The Warriors started the game at bat and third baseman Bonham doubled to right field to kick the game off, putting all players on base.
Both teams started the game hot scoring runs in the first inning. Mares had 2 runs during his at-bats and hit a double to right field making the score 3-0.
Warriors first baseman Mares expressed his feelings about the team being in the playoffs.
“I feel great and something special. We have a real strong group out here. I mean, I love all my teammates. We spend a lot of time together, so all of us coming together for our last couple of games is great,” Mares said.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Bobcats tied the game up. First baseman Andreas Nilsen was hit by pitch to bring a run in.
Bobcats infielder Jacob Beauchaine singled to shortstop in the bottom of the fourth inning to give them the lead.
At the beginning of the fifth inning, Warriors athletic trainer and interim athletic director Abi Francisco came out onto the field after an apparent injury to Warriors pitcher Luke Steward’s arm, checking him out of the game.
“I was honestly struggling a little bit in my own head, so just being able to flush it and talk to my coaches [in] times of struggle helped,” Steward said.
Steward faced 32 batters, threw 114 pitches, and had 61 strikes.
Pitcher Henry Sorman replaced Steward in the fifth inning hoping to keep the Bobcats off the board.
In the top of the six inning, Bonham hit a double to left field, driving in two runs, making the score 7-4 and giving the Warriors breathing room.
The score remained the same going into the ninth inning, with the Warriors closing out the win.
Saddleback’s coach Sommer McCartney talked about the next steps for his team after the game.
“We’ll do exit meetings, talk to each player, and start building for next year,” McCartney said.
Warriors catcher Ryan Matsukawa talked about how he balances travel with maintaining peak performance levels.
“Good sleep. You do what you do when you’re on the road and try to stay as healthy as possible. It’s just once you get everything done with, it’s recovery. I’m a catcher so I go to the trainer and get work done, even if I’m not injured,” Matsukawa said.
The Warriors will play Thursday May 8, in the second round of the 3C2A SoCal Regional Playoffs on the road against Glendale College Vaqueros (30-12) at Cerritos College.
