In instant classic, Justin-Siena rallies and holds on to get monumental road win over Vintage in extra innings
By Kyle Foster
Twitter/X: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
When a game goes to extra innings, it can come down to many things. But it can suddenly turn into a season of Survivor. Who has the will to outwhit, outplay, and outlast their opponent?
On Tuesday afternoon at Crusher Diamond, this is what Justin-Siena did as they battled to a 6-5 win on the road over Vintage in a Vine Valley Athletic League instant classic.
The Braves (13-4 overall, 4-1 VVAL) opened the game with a pair of runs right away in the first. It all began when Tommy Malloy walked and got to second on a bunt before coming home on a 2-run home run to left field by Jake Fletcher. This was his second home run of the season as well.
“I knew I was gonna get some type of spin, just because of how I’ve been hitting in this season,” Fletcher said. “And he kind of threw me that little 12-6 (curveball), and it kind of came at me, and I got out of the way. I was like, ‘You know, he’s probably not going to come back with it, dig himself into a 2-0 count, and then have to throw it.’ So I was ready for the fastball.”
Justin-Siena scored again in the third when Malloy reached on an infield single and got to third on a pair of wild pitches. He then scored when Fletcher reached on an error.
Then in the top of the ninth, the Braves score three times to take the lead that they wouldn’t give up. The rally began when Sangiacomo singled and Fletcher reached on a sacrifice bunt, and Noah Giovannelli walked to load the bases. A single by Henry Meyers brought in Sangiacomo.
“It’s the idea of persist and resist,” Justin-Siena head coach Jeremy Tayson explained of the key rally in the ninth that sent his team be 2-0 in extra innings on the season. “You got to persist to keep getting to the results that you want. You got to resist negativity, noise, things in this game that don’t go your way, through which there was a lot for this. So persist and try to outlast your opponent. It’s a good, relentless opponent over there, obviously. Every time we scored, they answered back.”
Then a single by Spencer Nelson brought in Fletcher and Giovannelli. This was a key hit as it provided just enough run support to win the game.
“He’s really been hot of late, been swinging a good bat in practice and in our recent games, and it’s just a guy that’s trusted himself,” Tayson said of Nelson’s key hit. “He knows his roles and responsibilities, and had a good match up there for him, and cashed in.”
In the game, Fletcher was 2-for-4 with a home run, double, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBIs to lead the offense. This also isn’t all that surprising given that Fletcher is a 4-year varsity player and has been in plenty of big situations.
“Jake’s obviously one of the best hitters around it, as many people would attest to,” Tayson said. “So for him to give us that loud length in there just gives us a jump start and energy. He’s a four-year varsity guy, and just gives us so much positive energy to give us confidence.”
Others helping with the Braves’ offensive attack in the game were Nelson (2-for-3, 2 RBIs), Giovannelli (2-for-4, run), Malloy (2-for-5, walk, 2 stolen bases, 2 runs), Meyers (2-for-4, RBI, stolen base), Sangiacomo (1-for-4, run) and Xiano Ortega (1-for-5).
Vintage (8-7, 3-3 VVAL) had an answer every time in the game. It started in the first when they knotted the game up at 2. It began when Dario Freschi walked and scored from first on a single by Blake Porter as part of a hit-and-run. Porter moved up to second when John Bullock was hit by a pitch before scoring on Riley Marek’s fielder’s choice, where there was an error to allow Porter to head home.
The Crushers once again tied the game up in the third with a run. When Porter reached on an error and got to second on the play, he came in on a Bullock single.
Vintage nearly kept the game going but scored two times in the last of the ninth. It all began when Sawyer Carmichael reached on an error and Freschi walked, which was followed by Porter being hit by a pitch to load the sacks. When Bullock got hit for the second time, Carmichael scored. Then, Freschi scored on a balk.
“It’s a group of guys. It’s chemistry. That’s what we preach is to compete no matter what the situation is, you want to compete until the end,” Vintage head coach Billy Smith said of the fight his team showed to battle back every time. “And the kids did that today.”
Those leading the Crusher offensive attack were Porter (2-for-3, RBI, 3 runs), Carmichael (2-for-4, run), Bullock (1-for-2, 2 walks, 2 RBIs), and Sam Mautner (1-for-4, double).
Both starters in the game ended the day with no decisions after battling all day long.
Bullock started the game for Vintage, where he worked 5 ⅓ innings, striking out 2 and walking 1. The senior righty also gave up 8 hits and 3 earned runs while throwing 66 pitches.
“Everytime he’s out there, he’s competing for us and that’s who we want in that situation,” Smith said of Bullock’s outing. “He did a great job.”
Meanwhile, Griffin Messenger worked 6 strong innings where he struck out 4 and walked 1. The junior right-hander also gave up 5 hits and 3 runs, 1 of which was earned on 85 pitches.
Getting the save in the game was Connor Zuehlsdroff. The sophomore righty worked the final inning, striking out 1. He also entered the game with the bases loaded and nobody out.
“One of the core values of our programs is trust,” Tayson explained. “So we demonstrate that in many ways. So bringing the kid into that situation demonstrates a lot of trust that he can get out of it. And he did his job great.”
This is also a monumental win for Justin-Siena as it is their first VVAL win on the road at Vintage. It is officially the last place the Braves needed to win at in the 6-year history of the league.
“It’s awesome because I do know that my last three years, it’s been rough playing here,” Fletcher said of getting a monumental road win. “ But that’s why, when we won, I was so excited because knowing what we’ve gone through here and last year being no-hit and stuff, it was awesome. I haven’t been this excited about it in a long time.”
The two teams will lock horns again on Thursday afternoon at 4:30 pm in game 2 of the season series.
In other VVAL games on Tuesday, American Canyon beat Napa 19-5 and Casa Grande beat Sonoma Valley 1-0.
