Bear Cubs’ second baseman Chase Stafford tosses the ball to shortstop Phil Ramos to begin a four-five-three double play against Sierra College April 24 at SRJC’s Cook Sypher Field in Santa Rosa.
The Santa Rosa Junior College baseball team (21-10,13-8) stuck to its winning ways after an impressive 9-4 win against Sierra College in the final regular season game, scoring eight runs through the first two innings April 26.
The first pitch to the Bear Cubs was turned into a single by Matt LoCoco. Next play he was picked at first, bringing the hot bat of Phil Ramos onto the plate. Ramos was hit by a pitch, leading him to first base.
Chase Stafford then singled advancing Ramos to second.
The first score of the game came when Dane Erbst singled, advancing Stafford to second while Ramos crossed home plate, putting the first run on the board for the Bear Cubs.
The Bear Cubs added another run when Taylor Martin singled, bringing in Stafford, making the early lead 2-0 in the first.
“Today, I took successful at bats along with the other hitters and had a lot of fun,” Stafford said.
The Bear Cubs came alive in the second when they scored six runs.
Ramos hit off the trend when he singled, bringing in Shaw to put one run on the board. Spencer Neve scored when Stafford singled.
“Our bats came alive today and when that happens we’re a dangerous team,” said Ramos. “[It] felt good, but always can improve and get better,” on his performance on the day.
Up 4-0 with the bases loaded, Erbst was walked, forcing Ramos to walk in for the easy score to put another run on the board. Stafford scored when Martin hit a sacrifice bunt.
The Bear Cubs were not done yet. Anthony Bender singled, bringing in Erbst and Bryan Weston, extending SRJC’s lead to 8-0 in the second inning.
The Bear Cubs scored one run in the fourth when Erbst singled, bringing in Stafford to extend the lead to 9-0.
Sierra College was shutout until the fifth inning when they scored three runs, adding some life to the Wolverines’ bench.
Dalton Blaser singled. Bret Sundberg then hit a double, allowing Blaser to score the first run for the Wolverines.
Dustin Vaught singled, advancing Sundberg into scoring position at third.
Josh Robinson then scored, bringing in Sundberg, putting one more run on the board.
The Bear Cubs made a pitching change after the last run, bringing in J.J. Jamerson to replace Brett Obranovich,who threw 61 percent strikes on the day.
Mike Phelan then singled, bringing in Vaught to put the third run on the board for Sierra, chopping the lead down to five.
SRJC lead 9-3 after the fifth inning.
Sierra scored one more run in the eighth, making the final score 9-4 SRJC.
“We played well offensively today,” said head coach Damon Neidlinger. “A lot of hits early and hit well with runners in scoring position in the early innings.”
The Bear Cubs next challenge is in the Regional Playoffs May 2-3 when their opponent is TBA.
According to Neidlinger for success in the playoffs: “Throw strikes, play good defense and hit with runners in scoring position.”
