A little extra work paid off for SBCC catcher Steven Keller on Saturday at Pershing Park. The freshman from Agoura threw out three baserunners in the early innings and then delivered a one-out, bases-loaded single in the 10th that scored Corey Krupp and lifted the Vaqueros to a 4-3 walk-off baseball win over second-place Hancock.
“Steven had a lot of trouble early in the season throwing runners out,” noted coach Teddy Warrecker. “His grandfather passed away on Thursday and he was late to the game. He stayed after to work on his throws to second and also put in extra time after practice (on Friday).
“Then he throws out three runners early in the game and, in effect, he eliminates their running game. Then he gets the game-winning hit.”
SBCC (17-16, 6-11) won for the fifth time in seven games and improved to 4-0 in extra-inning contests. It was the first victory over Hancock (18-13, 11-6) in three tries this season.
Krupp led off the 10th with a ground single to left and proceeded to steal second and third base. Hancock intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases with one out, setting the stage for Keller’s walk-off, line-drive hit that rolled to the right-field fence.
Hancock scored three runs in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Santa Barbara rallied in the fifth when Sean Costella was hit by a pitch and came around to score on Zack Chavez’s double down the right-field line. Chavez went to third on an error and tied it at 3-3 on Krupp’s sacrifice bunt.
The Vaquero bullpen was spectacular, holding the high-scoring Bulldogs without a run over the last six innings. Hancock started the day as the second-highest scoring team in the WSC North, averaging 8.4 runs.
Bryce Smith pitched three innings of scoreless relief. He was followed by left-hander Greg Pellici in the eighth and Blake McFarland, who pitched a scoreless 10th just five days after tossing a four-hit shutout at Ventura.
“Bryce Smith doubled his inning total for the season,” said Warrecker. “Justin Aspegren (the Vaqueros’ pitching coach) said he’s been working his tail off and commanding all his pitches in the bullpen. He was dominant today.”
Hancock had runners at first and third with two outs in the ninth on a hit batter and a strike-three pitch that got away from the catcher. Pellici ended the threat by getting Chris Mallory on a flyout to right.
“We’re in a must-win situation now (to make the playoffs),” concluded Warrecker. “If we play well, we’re very difficult to beat.”
SBCC will host two games in the Channel Coast Tournament next week. L.A. Mission visits Pershing Park on Tuesday, followed by Porterville on Wednesday. Both games start at 2:30 p.m.
SBCC 4, HANCOCK 3
Hancock ……….. 000 300 000 0 — 3 7 3
SBCC ……………. 001 020 000 1 — 4 9 2
Calhoun, Lachuga (9) and Dotzler; McGrew, Smith (5), Pellici (8), McFarland (10) and and Keller. W–McFarland (6-2). L–Lachuga.
2B–H: Mallory. SB: Trimble, Chavez.
Records–H 18-13, 11-6. SB 17-16, 6-11.
