Vintage struggles to get key hit in loss to American Canyon
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
Normally, it’s never a good recipe to leave runners stranded in scoring position.
This reared its ugly head on Wednesday afternoon when American Canyon beat Vintage 3-1.
In the game, Vintage stranded six runners in scoring position.
“The guy pitched well,” Vintage manager Billy Smith said. “He did that against us last time so we knew he could do it again and we just came out and we just didn’t execute.”
The Wolves (2-21 overall, 1-11 VVAL) opened up the scoring in the second inning. Isaiah Peterson singled and later scored on a double down the left-field line by Ryan Landaverde.
American Canyon scored again in the fourth. Brandon Torres roped a triple into the right-center gap and then scored when Jaedon Mendoza reached on an infield single.
Wolves manager Matt Brown thought the early runs allowed the defense to settle into the game a bit.
“Mason gets on autopilot and he doesn’t look at the scoreboard a whole lot,” the coach said. “I think he’s just out there trying to make his pitches. I think the two runs helped our defense settle in a little bit, which is probably more important. Vintage is a good team, a good hitting team. Mason’s not going to strike everybody out. So having our defenders loose because we have a couple of runs was huge.”
In the seventh, the Wolves pushed across their final run of the game. Peterson led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and advanced to second when Dayvon Lucas reached on an error. When Jeremiah Sundita reached on a fielder’s choice, Peterson advanced to third and came home the next at-bat when Mendoza was hit by a pitch with the sacks full.
Leading American Canyon’s offensive attack was Peterson (1-for-2 two runs scored), Kamari Antoncich (1-for-2), Mendoza (1-for-3 two RBIs), Landaverde (1-for-3 double, RBI), Torres (1-for-3 triple, run), and Mason Harris (1-for-4).
It took until the final game of league play, but the Wolves notched a league win this season. The loss is also detrimental to Vintage because it eliminates them from the VVAL tournament next week.
The Crushers (12-11, 5-6 VVAL) pushed their lone run across in the bottom half of the seventh. Carson Hall singled and was pinch ran for by Jacob Fiene. Fiene moved to second on a single by Dario Freschi and to third on a single by Alec Deharo. Fiene came into score when Sam Gomez reached on a fielder’s choice.
Vintage was led at the plate by Buffler (1-for-1), Diego Davis (1-for-2), Ian Fernandez (1-for-4), and Gomez (0-for-2 RBI).
Getting the win was Harris. Over a complete-game effort, he struck out seven and walked one. He also allowed just one run to score on 101 pitches.
“He’s a talent,” Brown said. “He’s a freshman. He’s got room to grow. But he gave us a great outing today and the last couple of times he’s been out he’s done a good job. So we’re lucky to have him.”
Pitching well but taking the loss in the game was Justin Ray. The senior right-hander worked 6 ⅔ innings and gave up just three runs, two of them earned. He also struck out seven and walked just one.
“Justin did a great job and it’s a spot start,” Smith explained. “He wanted it and he always starts a little slow and then once he finds his rhythm, he was just dominant. We just didn’t make enough plays and we didn’t execute for him. So it’s disappointing guy that throws that good for us not to put a little put some runs up on the board for him.”
Both teams will have their regular seasons come to an end on Friday afternoon at 4 pm. American Canyon will return home to face Benicia in a non-league contest. Vintage visit Petaluma.
The last time Vintage met Petaluma they came up just short losing 4-2 on April 13th.
In other VVAL action Wednesday, Justin-Siena beat Petaluma, and Sonoma Valley beat Napa 10-3. You can view the updated league standings here.
