Honkers top Patriots in crucial rubber match
After dropping game one of their three-game series with Pioneer on Tuesday, Yuba City High baseball coach Vicente Luevano and the Honkers just stared at each other for a few seconds in disbelief.
One more loss and they would drop the program's first league series since 2005 and first ever in the Tri-County Conference.
Then they looked over at four banners hanging form the press box and remembered a minute detail some doubters may have forgotten — the Honkers are the four-time defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division III champions.
When they needed to bounce back on Thursday, senior Cody Kent, who earned the save in last season's title game, pitched a complete game and struck out 10 for a 10-1 victory.
In Friday's decisive third game when Pioneer shortstop Jay Puckett blasted an offering from David Schroeder into orbit over the left field wall to tie the game at 7-7, another senior with a championship ring delivered a response.
With two outs and a runner on second, Tyler Olson ripped a single through the left side of the infield to plate Robbie Kunkle, giving the Honkers an 8-7 lead. Olson would score on a wild pitch to add insurance.
Junior Jake Cormier pitched a scoreless seventh and the Honkers held on for the 9-7 TCC victory to win the series under the lights at Winship Field.
"They knew we had to come back and send a message," Luevano said. "Our guys bounced back. Having a big series win like this sets these guys up to finish conference (play) on a good note. "
Yuba City (11-3, 8-1) jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning on RBI singles from Blake Parks and Olson. The Honkers added two more runs in the second on a Pioneer error and passed ball.
Olson started on the mound for Yuba City and his one rough inning was the top of the third when he surrendered four earned runs that tied the score at 4-4.
The right-hander lasted 3 2/3 innings on 98 pitches. He struck out six batters and walked four.
Olson and the Honkers went back on top 7-4 in the bottom of the third with Seth Davis and Christian Divelbiss both coming through with RBI singles.
The Patriots (9-5, 6-3) picked up a run in the fifth on a double steal, before Puckett's blast tied the game at 7-7.
Olson said Pioneer had all the hype coming into this season and the Honkers were out to prove Yuba City is still the team to beat.
"They were the ones who were going to take it all," Olson said. "Every year people try to doubt us. We dedicated ourselves every day at practice to being the team that beats (Pioneer)."
He finished 3 for 3 with two RBIs and scored twice. Seth Davis was 1 for 2 with a RBI and two runs scored and Aaron Byers went 2 for 4.
Next up for the Honkers is the Surewest Tournament beginning tonight at Winship Field against Casa Roble. Tournament play continues next week against Union Mine.
TCC action resumes on April 26 against Woodland.
"At practice we have an atmosphere where we know we're the champions," Olson said. "We go out and practice hard every single day and try to show that."
