For the third time in four years, Glendale won the Western State Conference title, with a wild 13-12 victory over Citrus College on May 3.

Tom Rochin had a game-winning single in the eighth inning of off Sean Tracey to drive in Evan Shahak and Matt Friedrichsen.

“Believe me, it wasn’t just my hit,” said Rochin. “It just happened to come at the right time. Everybody else had home runs, we were down by a lot and we kept finding ways to come back.”

The two teams combined for eight home runs, and 27 hits. Citrus scored at least one run in every inning until the eighth inning.

Shahak hit his two home runs in the first and third innings. Adam Summeral for Citrus went five for five with three home runs and scored five times, and Anthony Romero went three for four, lacking a home run for the cycle.

Summerell’s first home run came in the second inning to give Citrus a 3-2 lead. His second, a solo shot came in the fifth, and gave Citrus a 9-8 lead, and the third, another solo home run came in the seventh inning, and gave Citrus a 12-11 lead.

Shahak went two for four, with two home runs, and scored four times.

His home run in the first inning gave Glendale a 2-1 lead, following a lead-off home run by Jimmy Stone. The second, a two-run home run, tied the score at 5-5.

“I just came out wanting to play,” said Shahak. “I wanted to beat this team that somehow kept up with us. I think the whole team was fired up, and it was a great game.”

Vic Herrera received the win by relief pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

Citrus scored in every inning except the eighth and ninth.

Ryan Noll and Friedrichsen both hit a pair of three-run home runs in the fifth and sixth innings respectively. Noll’s home run came off of Citrus starting pitcher Javier Robles. The home run came with Glendale down 9-5 and Friedrichsen’s hit tied the game at 11-11. Both home runs came with two outs. Friedrichsen’s came off Lance Escalara, who came in for Robles in the sixth inning.

Robles pitched five innings, allowed eight runs (seven earned), nine hits, two walks, hit two batters, and struck out two.

“We swung the bat well all day,” coach Jon Strauss said. “I just knew it was a matter of if we could stop them. I knew we could come back, we got some good hitters, and the field played real small.”

With the victory, Glendale (29-10, 19-6 in WSC) broke the school record for wins in a season. The previous record of 27 wins was set during the 1997 season.

Glendale starting pitcher Kevin Welch had his worst outing of the season going five innings, giving up nine runs, (eight earned), 11 hits, two walks, six strike outs, and hit a batter.

Vic Herrera pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win, and Ivan Lopez pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.