College Baseball:
Chaffey has to like the position they’re in.
With six to play, including five IEAC games, the Panthers hold a two-game lead over second-place Desert.
They have one each with the bottom three of the conference (Victor Valley, San Bernardino and Barstow), and they host that same Desert squad next Thursday.
Chaffey won its seventh consecutive game on Thursday.
The Panthers edged their visitors from Mt. San Jacinto, 10-8.
When MSJC grabbed their bats in the top of the fifth inning, they trailed their hosts from Rancho Cucamonga, 6-0.
Conversely, the Panthers came to the plate in the bottom of the six trailing 8-6.
They got single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, and Derek Almeda provided the heroics.
Ryan Harrison was the fourth Chaffey pitcher, and he was credited with the win after going three scoreless innings and scattering three hits.
Harrison walked a pair and struck out one.
Steven Felipe wet 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and four RBIs.
Felipe’s three-run double in the top of the sixth gave MSJC an 8-6 lead.
Justin Granado singled twice, doubled, scored two runs and drove in a pair.
Derek Hurtado had a pair of singles and scored two runs.
Jordan Moskal went 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored.
Matt Rezkalah drew a pair of walks and singled.
Juni Rodriguez walked, singled and drove in a run on a sac fly.
Ryan Rangel drew a pair of walks and scored.
Louie Arias walked and scored two runs.
Chad Horton was roughed up for six runs on 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings.
Marcos Cisneros was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Cisneros didn’t issue a walk and registered a pair of strikeouts.
As mentioned, Derek Almeda was the hero of the day.
Almeda went 4-for-5 with three runs, a double and the walk-off two-run home run.
Kaden Durazo had three hits, two runs and a pair of RBIs.
Durazo’s RBI single in the seventh pulled the Panthers even at 8-8.
Jayden Sanchez went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three runs and a pair of RBIs.
Ryan Melton had an RBI single, and an RBI ground out.
AJ Hurtado doubled and scored.
Ryder Young went 2-for-5, including an RBI single.
Dominick Torrez had an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to pull Chaffey to within 8-7 of Mt. San Jacinto.
Eric Valdivia, Jordan Daniels and Cameron Casado had one single apiece and Jaden St. Cyr scored once for the Panthers.
Box Score:
MSJC: 0-0-0-0-3-5-0-0-0-(8)
CC: 0-0-2-4-0-1-1-0-2-(10)
Win: Ryan Harrison
Loss: Marcos Cisneros
HR: Derek Almeda (C)
2B: Justin Granado (M), Steven Felipe (M) 2, Jordan Moskal (M); Jayden Sanchez (C) 2, Derek Almeda (C), AJ Hurtado (C)
IEAC Standings:
Chaffey (25-8-1, 15-4)
Desert (20-13, 13-6)
Cerro Coso (20-14, 11-9)
Mt. San Jacinto (14-20, 11-8)
Victor Valley (12-23, 8-11)
SBVC (11-23, 6-13)
Barstow (4-30, 2-16)
Chaffey’s Remaining Schedule:
4/12: Chaffey at Victor Valley
4/15: SBVC at Chaffey
4/17: Desert at Chaffey
4/22: Cerro Coso at Chaffey
4/23: El Camino at Chaffey
4/24: Chaffey at Barstow
