Not even close: Honkers win huge over rival

After River Valley High's baseball team gave Yuba City the best fight this rivalry has ever seen on Tuesday, the Honkers had to step back and take a deep breath.

They barely escaped Winship Field with a one-run victory against the Falcons, the closest margin of victory in the five years these two programs have played each other at the varsity level.

The Falcons outhit the Honkers, Yuba City committed more errors, and yet the Honkers salvaged a win.

"We didn't really think that was good enough," said senior catcher Christian Divelbiss. "It was a good game, but we wanted to come back and steamroll them."

Mission accomplished for Divelbiss and the Honkers.

Divelbiss belted a grand slam and Yuba City thoroughly dismantled its cross-town foe with an 18-3, mercy-rule victory on Thursday at Falcon Field, registering the most lopsided win in this rivalry's history.

With Yuba City (20-4, 13-1) already leading 7-2 and the bases loaded in the top of the third inning, Divelbiss hit a laser shot over the left field wall on to the adjacent JV softball field.

"I was like, 'That better get out because I can't put more into it than that,'" Divelbiss said. "I was just looking to hit the ball because I'd been struggling a little bit."

Yuba City scored in every inning except the fourth, including a seven-run fifth. Though the Honkers notched 12 hits, River Valley's pitching staff didn't help its own cause, issuing 13 walks.

The Honkers received offensive firepower from Tyler Olson, who finished 2 for 2 with two doubles, a couple RBIs and he scored three times.

Jake Cormier was 2 for 3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored, while leadoff hitter Seth Davis scored three times, knocked in a run and picked up two hits.

Yuba City coach Vicente Luevano thought his team may have gotten a little caught up in the emotions of this rivalry on Tuesday, though they found a way to calm the nerves in game two.

"These guys weren't as composed as we usually are," Luevano said. "What I want to see once we head into playoffs though is having those first-game jitters not show up. We just need to play with a relaxed intensity."

The Honkers will also need to deal with a 12-day layoff between today's regular season finale and their first playoff game, which is scheduled for May 18 at McCauliffe Memorial Ballpark in Sacramento.

With the addition of play-in games to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III bracket, the Honkers earned a bye as a league champion.

To counteract that lull, Luevano scheduled a game next Wednesday against McClatchy (Sacramento) to keep his team fresh.

River Valley (15-9, 9-5) will do the same with games against Sutter and Marysville next week.

While an 18-3 loss put a damper on senior day at Falcon Field, Rollins said the Falcons are focused on the program's second straight trip to the postseason.

"Hopefully we'll learn from our mistakes today," Rollins said. "I think since we've been (to the playoffs) before we'll be a little more prepared."