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Varsity Warriors off to 5-1 start in SVC baseball
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Photo by Bill Hicks
Hank Seifert and the varsity Warriors baseball program have won their last four games.
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Off to its best start in years, Galt’s varsity Warriors baseball team continued its winning streak at four straight wins by defeating Oak Ridge High School and increased its lead in the SVC Conference.
The Warriors, who have not had a winning season in at least the past three seasons and finished with just two league wins last season, have surprised opponents in the SVC with their 5-1 record, a stark contrast from its 2-4 start in the first six games last season.
Galt added its most recent win Monday, defeating Oak Ridge 7-6 to take a 2-0 lead in the teams’ season series.
Oak Ridge scored one run in the first and two runs in the third and Oak Ridge led Galt 3-0 going into the fourth inning.
Galt batters did not wake up until the fourth inning.
Back-to-back singles by Joey Ruiz and Cole Rasmussen started off the fourth.
Brent Harrison singled to bring in Ruiz and Rasmussen for Galt’s first two runs.
Oak Ridge extended its lead by scoring another run in the fifth, making it 4-2 Oak Ridge. Galt rallied back with some strong hitting and good base running in the sixth.
Rasmussen and Harrison hit back-to-back singles to start off the inning.
Taylor Peasha’s sacrifice hit moved Harrison and Rasmussen in scoring position.
A balk brought in Rasmussen and moved Harrison to third base, before Mario Portillo hit a clutch single to knock in Harrison for a 4-4 tie.
Portillo stretched his single to second base on an error thrown by the outfielder.
J.J. Martinez, with two outs, then hit a screaming double to bring in Portillo for the first Galt lead at 5-4.
Galt continued to put pressure on Oak Ridge in the seventh.
Ruiz gets on with a walk with one out and Rasmussen again singled.
Brent Harrison continued his streak with a 2 RBI double bringing in both Ruiz and Rasmussen to extend the lead.
“A strong performance by Nikko Garcia combined with Brent Harrison to secure the win. Both defense and offense made huge contribution to win this game,” Galt head coach Joe Garcia said of Monday’s game.
Nikko Garcia pitched into the sixth, where he got into trouble when two runners managed to get on.
With runners in scoring position for Oak Ridge, Harrison came in to relieve Garcia.
“A brilliant defensive performance by Taylor to freeze the runner and get the first out,” Garcia said of the first Oak Ridge batter Harrison faced Monday.
Harrison would strike out the next batter and get the third batter to pop up for Galt’s third out to second base, ending Oak Ridge’s threat.
“On this kind of situation I am very proud of these young men. Everybody contributed and made some clutch hits and defensive plays to keep us in the game,” Garcia said.
“Consistency is the key for our success. The strong unity of these players and coaches has surprised a lot of teams this year. We hope to continue our success.”
Last Tuesday, Galt defeated Ponderosa 5-4.
Ponderosa took the lead early by scoring two runs in the first.
However, Galt bounced back.
Portillo single in the second inning and Garcia’s sacrifice bunt moved Portillo into scoring position.
With two outs, Joe Setum hits a clutch double, scoring Portillo for Galt’s first score, making it a 2-1 game.
Ponderosa increased its lead to 3-1 in the third inning, but Galt showed no sign of giving up.
Rasmussen walked to lead the inning and Harrison hit his first two-run homer for the year over the right field fence to tie the game 3-3.
Ponderosa managed to take the lead again in the fifth inning, 4-3.
Taylor Peasha singled in the fifth and then stole second base to get in scoring position. Portillo singled in Peasha to tie the game again, 4-4.
In the sixth inning, Ruiz walked and Rasmussen got on with a fielder choice, forcing Ruiz out at second.
Harrison singled, Rasmussen to third base, setting up a first and third situation for Galt. Rasmussen scored the winning run by stealing home on trick play by Galt.
Harrison attempted to steal second to distract the pitcher to throw to second base allowing Rasumssen to score and give Galt a 5-4 upset win.
“Outstanding pitching by both pitcher Nikko Garcia and Brent Harrison. Nikko managed his game by keeping the Ponderosa batters off balance going five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts,” Garcia said.
Harrison came in relief in the sixth inning to close the game, allowing one hit and no runs with two strikeouts.
“I very please to see these young men go to battle. Regardless of the outcome they played outstanding. We proved we could play against top contenders,” Garcia said.
On Thursday, Galt’s bats combined to defeat Cordova 6-2.
Rancho Cordova surprise Galt with the early lead in third inning 2-0.
Galt rallied back with some strong hitting in the fourth.
Ruiz led off with a walk and a single by Garcia knocked in Ruiz for Galt’s first run. Garcia scored the second run on an error by the Cordova pitcher tying the game 2-2.
Both Portillo and Martinez walked and Setum hit his first three-run homer to the left center fence wall to extend the lead to 5-2.
Cordova could not bounce back.
In the fifth inning, Martinez hits a towering triple and scored on a throwing error by the centerfielder to extend the lead to 6-2.
“Cordova is a strappy team. They kept the game close. Some of our key players are now starting to break out giving more offensive power for our team,” Garcia said.
“Setum and Martinez’s bats broke out at the right time, helping Galt manufacture more runs,” Garcia said.
Galt’s next game is today at home against Oak Ridge.
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