As baseball season comes to an end, so do the Vaqueros playoff hopes.
The Vaqueros had their last opportunity on Friday to earn a spot to compete for the conference championship — a title they have won for the past three years. Despite the 5-2 win against Los Angeles Valley College, the Vaqueros came just short of making the playoffs.
Friday’s game was the last to be played by 16 sophomore Vaquero baseball players.
“It is definitely very emotional,” said sophomore Keaton Leach, “I am going to miss this team; the coaches and the players.”
Emotions ran high as many realized their season could be over.
“We have a great group of guys,” said sophomore Dylan Trimarchi, “it was fun to have one final good game at Stengel.”
Cam Silva, a sophomore catcher said his experience as a Vaquero was a positive experience.
“I have no regrets from this team,” said Silva. “I came here from Pasadena Community College and I wouldn’t change that decision ever.”
When the game began, sophomore pitcher David Lira took the mound for a solid seven innings.
“I came out and competed,” said Lira. “I gave everything I had and I knew I was going to leave it all out there. It felt pretty good.”
Glendale was able to protect home plate and the game was scoreless until the top of the fifth inning when the Monarchs took advantage of two Vaquero errors. It gave L.A. Valley the opportunity to advance into scoring position and lead the game 2-0.
With a continuous fight through six innings, the bottom of the seventh inning is when Glendale attacked and made their mark on the scoreboard.
Consecutive pitches hit Cam Silva and Chris Carlin both, putting them on first base and second base. Silva capitalized on an error by Valley’s third basemen and put the first mark on the board for the Vaqueros. Carlos Robles hit a single, landing him on first base and Carlin advanced to third base. A wild pitch thrown to Dylan Trimarchi brought in Carlin to tie the game 2-2 and Robles advanced to third base. Trimarchi was hit by the pitch, which moved him to first base.
The Monarchs made a pitching change as Jay Sheeley came up to bat. Sheeley hit a home run that brought three runners in giving the Vaqs a 5-2 lead. It was Sheeley’s last at-bat as a Vaquero.
The top of the eighth inning, Glendale brought in relief pitcher Leach. Monarchs were unable to get in any runs.
The top of the ninth inning, Leach closed the game with a strikeout to the last batter ending the game with a score of 5-2.
Head Coach Chris Cicuto said his departing players will leave with not only life lessons learned, but how to look adversity in the eye and overcome.
“It is about working hard and being responsible,” said Cicuto.
