The Dos Pueblos seniors stepped up on their special day and lifted the Chargers to a walk-off win over Santa Barbara on Thursday.
With the bases loaded and two out, Dylan Rohde hit the ball through the infield to score Ben York in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving DP a 2-1 victory in the Channel League finale on Senior Day at Scott O’Leary Field.
The win gives the league-champion Chargers a sweep of the three games against their rivals and a 20-8 record (11-1 in league) going into the CIF playoffs. Second-place Santa Barbara finishes 16-8, 8-4.
“Today was a proud moment in watching these seniors battle like they did,” said DP coach Nick Katzenstein.
Katzenstein started all 10 of his seniors and, for the exception of starting pitcher Drake Gilliland, they played the entire game. Gilliland held the Dons to one run through 6.1 innings and was relieved by junior left Josh Tedeschi. He pitched out of trouble in the seventh and escaped a bases-loaded no-out jam in the eighth. He got a line out to first baseman Tyler Harris and then got the next batter to hit a comebacker, which he turned into double play.
That set the stage for the drama in the bottom of the eighth.
York singled to center with one out and was sacrificed to second by Brody Curtis. Gabe Speier drew and intentional walk and Nolan Soto was hit by pitch to load the bases for Rhode.
“He didn’t hit it great but it was enough to get through the infield and plate the winning run,” said Katzenstein.
Anthony Spiritosanto drove in Soto in the second inning to give DP a 1-0 lead. Santa Barbara tied the score in the sixth when John Brontsema doubled in Conner McManigal. The UC Irvine-bound Brontsema hit two doubles.
Santa Barbara…000 001 00 — 1 7 0
Dos Pueblos…010 000 01 — 2 5 1
McManigal, Grandcolas (4), Brontsema (7) & Sabado. Gilliland, Tedeschi (7) & Curtis
2B: Brontsema (2), Torres
