After dropping the first six games in
league play this season, the Valley Center varsity baseball team came
back for a pair of wins over San Marcos this week.
The first matchup came on Wednesday at Valley Center, and the Jaguars
broke a late tie with three runs in the final two innings to take a
4–1 win.
Valley Center scored first when Tyler Bernard doubled to lead off the
game, and was driven in by Justin Lawrence. The Knights answered in
the third after a walk and a sacrifice bunt set up an RBI single that
tied the score.
But the Jags rallied for another run in the fifth, when Lawrence singled,
stole second, and scored on a single by Casey Woods. Valley Center added
two more in the sixth when Bernard doubled again and scored on a squeeze
play by Jeremy Dozier, then Lawrence singled and scored when Collin
Barnes reached on an error.
Woods pitched six and a third strong innings to earn the win, as he
allowed one run on four hits and three walks, with three strikeouts.
Bernard came in to pitch with one out in the seventh, and promptly struck
out the next two batters to end the game.
Bernard also led the Jags on offense with three hits, including a pair
of doubles, while Lawrence had three hits and an RBI, Taylor Benjamin
had a double and a single, Barnes had a double and an RBI, Dozier had
a single and an RBI, and both Clint Lavine and Woods had a single.
The Jaguars traveled to San Marcos for the rematch on Friday, and once
again scored a pair of late–inning runs to take the victory, 6–4.
This time, the Knights jumped out in front with a run in the first,
but Valley Center countered with two runs in the top of the second.
San Marcos re–took the lead with two runs in the third, but the
Jaguars tied it up with a run in the fourth. Both teams scored a run
in the sixth, but Valley Center scored twice in the seventh to take
the win.
Lavine led the offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Bernard smashed
his second home run of the season, Barnes and Chase Sessions each had
a hit and an RBI, and Benjamin and Woods each had a hit in the game.
Lawrence pitched five and two–thirds innings for the Jags, giving
up four runs on five hits and six walks, while striking out three. Bernard
was impressive in relief again, allowing just one hit in one and a third
innings, while striking out three and earning the win.
“We needed this bad,” said manager Bill Dunckel. “The
kids have had a good attitude, and even though we weren’t happy
with the wins and losses, they’ve been responding well. They’ve
been trying hard, they’ve been practicing hard, and we’re
going to finish strong.”
The Jaguars are now 7–15 overall and 2–6 in league play,
with games against Mission Hills this week beginning on the road on
Wednesday and concluding at home on Friday. |
