The Santa Rosa Junior College baseball team advanced to the NorCal Super Regionals by defeating College of Marin 7-4 carried by a multi-homer game from first baseman J.T. Summers May 3 at College of Marin.
Carrying Saturday’s momentum, the Bear Cubs looked to shut the series to a close Sunday to prevent playing a double header with the robust College of Marin team.
Santa Rosa starter Cody Collins took the mound and immediately got into trouble during the first inning after giving up a single in the first at-bat.
After a groundout that moved the runner to second, the Mariners capitalized with an RBI single. Another single and a two-run RBI double gave Marin a 3-0 advantage early. Collins escaped after a strikeout and a flyout.
The Bear Cubs responded with two hits from center fielder Cooper Wood and third baseman Trevor Schlafer, giving Summers a huge opportunity early.
Summers slugged a fastball into dead center field for a three-run homerun to tie the game 3-3.
Collins got into a scare again in the next inning, allowing bases loaded with one out but managed with a strikeout and groundout to keep the score tied.
Designated hitter Aidan Sakai and shortstop Caze Derammelaere started the second inning by getting on base before Summers came to bat with two outs. Like clockwork, Summers drove a hanging slider into center left field for another three-run homerun to take the lead 6-3.
Summers credits a switch in mentality for his success.
“I haven’t been doing my job to the best of my abilities the last few games,” Summers said. “I showed up the other day and tried to switch my mentality up and do anything possible to help my team win.”
Summers finished the day 2-4 with six RBIs, proving effective against Marin.
Collins continued to hold out up to the fifth inning where he allowed runners on first and second, but induced a groundout for his final out of the game.
Collins finished Sunday going for five innings and five strikeouts, only giving up three runs despite allowing 11 runners on base.
Nathan Bunyard relieved Collins in the sixth and held his own, striking out two batters and inducing a pop-fly.
Santa Rosa scored their last run in the sixth after Derammelaere hit a sac fly with runners on the corners to make it 7-3.
Bunyard went the distance, only allowing one run on a home run in the eighth inning before striking out the final batter to close the game.
Bunyard pitched four innings with four strikeouts only allowing three hits and one run, a complete bounce back from his last outing.
“I was trying to attack them,” Bunyard said. “I knew that if I was around the zone, it gives us a chance; and our defense played really well behind me; and the offense kept us in the game. Just play with my lead, and let my teammates do the work.”
While Bunyard is elated to take the win against the Mariners, his sights are set right back on track for Super Regionals.
“It’s a process,” Bunyard said.“You have ups and downs, but I’m happy that this happened, I’m happy we got the win for the team, but I’m going back right back to my game plan and staying consistent with who I am.”
Assistant Coach Tom Francois described Saturday as a back-and-forth fight and credited the Bear Cubs with fighting again Sunday.
“Yesterday was punch, counter, punch, counter, then we get up, they hit us back, and we get the knockout punch,” Francois said. “That’s what these guys are capable of doing, fighting like heck all the time.”
Francois gave Collins and Bunyard their flowers for Sunday’s performances.
“I have to give them a lot of credit,” Francois said. “That kid Collins did a great job as did Bunyard, and when it comes to that third game, it’s all about pitching.”
With Modesto advancing against San Mateo, the Bear Cubs will face the Pirates in a clash that is sure to ignite a fierce rivalry after falling to them earlier in the season.
“We’re going to be ready, that’s for darn sure,” Francois said. “Damon is going to have us ready, I can guarantee you that.”
Santa Rosa heads to Modesto to face Modesto Junior College in the 3C2A NorCal Super Regionals in a best-of-three series beginning May 7, first pitch slated for 2 p.m.
