Saints rally twice to eliminate Skyline in NorCal playoffs
Mission College advanced to the Super Regional round of the CCCAA NorCal playoffs with a pair of gritty opening-round wins over Skyline last week. The 11th-seeded Saints (29-12-1) head to the University of the Pacific May 11-13 to face host #2 San Joaquin Delta (33-8) and #18 Cosumnes River (21-20). They will open against CRC Thursday at 11:00am
The Saints spotted the Trojans a 4-1 5th-inning lead in Friday's opener. Jayce Dobie made it 4-2 when he singled in Gabe Harris and then the Saints grabbed a 5-4 lead in the 6th on a Hasani Johnson three-run bomb to right that scored Alana Ramirez and Dylan Unangst. Skyine added single runs in the 7th and 8th for a 6-5 lead, but Amayas Lamar evened it at 6-6 with an RBI-single that brought home Ramirez, who had opened the 8th with a triple to the centerfield fence.
After reliever Will Gnibus (pictured) set the Trojans down in order in the top of the 9th, Unangst ended it with a walk-off double to center that brought home Gabriel Tapia and ignited a Saint dogpile in the infield.
The Saints would have to rally again Saturday. Trailing 2-0 in the 8th, Harris lined a two-run single to center that knocked in Johnson and Tapia. Unangst would again deliver the game-winner with a single to right that scored Tevis Payne II. Saints reliever Jake Barbeau ended the game, and a three-up-three-down Skyline ninth, with a called third strike against Trojan pinch-hitter Ben Leiphart.
The Super Regional round is a double-elimination series with the winner advancing to the Regional Finals May 19-21.Watch this space for ticket and livestream information.
