The Cate baseball team wouldn’t be denied in its Condor League opener at the brand-spanking new Jackson Field on Wednesday, rallying from a four-run deficit to take out Ojai Valley School 10-5.
Ojai plated four runs in the second inning to take a fast 4-0 lead but Cate quickly responded in turn, getting two runs back in the bottom half of the inning to make it 4-2.
Starting pitcher Michael McMahon settled down, recording seven strikeouts in six innings of work while only allowing Ojai to break through in that one inning. John Warren struck out the side in the seventh to finish it off for the Rams (3-0, 1-0 CL).
“What we learned today is that we’re going to get behind,” noted Cate head coach Ben Soto. “We can either put our head down and start complaining that it’s not our day or make excuses why we didn’t battle back, but I thought they dug their heals in and battled back.”
Jackson Mauza pitched in an RBI-hit and Warren stroked a double as the Rams scored eight runs in the last three innings to gain control.
“We just tried to cut our mistakes to a minimum,” explained McMahon, whose Rams side benefitted from Ojai miscues, including several passed balls and nine walks to Cate batters.
Cate faces a sterner test on Saturday when Cornerstone Christian, ranked No. 3 in CIF Division VII, arrives on the Mesa for a two p.m. first pitch. Soto is giving Warren the starting nod.
CATE 10, OJAI VALLEY SCHOOL 5
Ojai Valley School 040 000 1 – 5 7 4
Cate 020 242 X – 10 6 2
