SAN DIMAS — Practically every inning felt like a cliffhanger for San Dimas during its CIF Southern Section Division 1 first-round baseball playoff game against visiting West Ranch on Friday. But the Saints were able to pull through.
San Dimas held on for a 3-2 victory even though it went hitless over the last five innings and it had to escape two bases-loaded jams and a nerve-wracking seventh inning.
The Saints’ Kody King, who pitched the final two innings, hit the Wildcats’ Brett Ishikawa to lead off the seventh inning, but then settled down to record the next three outs to close the game.
San Dimas (24-4) advances to Tuesday’s second round. It will be home against Cypress (19-9-1), which was a 5-2 winner over Calabasas in the first round.
San Dimas co-head coach Mike Regan talks about surviving a 3-2 thriller over West Ranch to advance in the D1 baseball playoffs pic.twitter.com/KfbYGMJO8l
— Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻💻 (@SGVNSports) May 4, 2024
San Dimas pitchers Jude Favela and Kody King combined for a 3-2 win over West Ranch. They talked about it. pic.twitter.com/TuutNMVANu
— Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻💻 (@SGVNSports) May 4, 2024
San Dimas scored all three of its runs and had all four of its hits in the first inning, then held its breath.
“We knew they had good arms and we were fortunate to get three on the board in the first,” San Dimas co-head coach Mike Regan said. “We made a couple miscues, but (starting pitcher) Jude (Favela) pitched out of a lot of jams and Kody came in and closed the door. I guess it’s nerve-wracking, but it’s fun to watch.”
The first inning set the tone and was the difference.
Favela, a USC commit, gave up three straight one-out singles to load the bases, but got clutch back-to-back strikeouts to escape.
The Saints were still feeling good about it because Vaughn Coleman responded by hitting the first pitch for a home run.
They weren’t done. Kasen Khansarinia singled, stole second and Landon White doubled…
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