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| Tigers embrace late-season renaissance |
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| Written by Marc Aceves / Patterson Irrigator | |
| Wednesday, 07 May 2008 | |
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“We want to send our seniors off on a high note. As hard as they’ve worked for this team, they deserve to go out with a win. We also want to have something to build on for next season.” — Benji Lozano PHS varsity baseball coach It’s no secret to any of the Tigers, coaches and players alike, that the team’s playoff aspirations have been null and void for some time. But despite a disappointing season, the Patterson baseball team has recently witnessed a resurgence in the clubhouse. The Tigers — in search of a positive season ending — are using other motivating factors to see them through.  Daniel Reza takes his turn as hurler during the Tigers' 13-7 victory against the Wolves. Elias Funez/Patterson Irrigator “We also want to have something to build on for next season. We want the guys who will be here next year to continue to gain confidence.” Patterson hosted Livingston on Friday, hammering its way past the Wolves, 13-7. The win comes on the heels of an 18-12 April 30 loss to Livingston, a game that the Tigers controlled early but eventually allowed to escape. Notwithstanding the recent split with Livingston, the team’s offense has not looked better all season long. Patterson would have to combine the total runs from its previous six games to match the 25 runs produced in the latest two-game series with the Wolves. The difference has been timely hitting. While the Tigers failed to produce in the clutch in the early goings of the season — as evidenced by the team’s struggles to win games determined by two runs or fewer — Patterson has broken out lately, driving in runs when the team needs them the most. “It’s not just one guy getting two hits a game anymore,” Lozano said. “Right now, we’ve got guys up and down the order coming up with two-out hits. That’s what we’ve been missing. “When you don’t score runs, one defensive error can cost you a ballgame. If we score like we have lately, it gives us more leeway, because we know that one play is not going to decide a game.” Friday’s game was tied 2-2 entering the bottom of the first. Patterson’s Nico Plascencia sparked a rally with a soaring double to left field. He moved to third base on a wild pitch, and Livingston hurler Anthony Mendoza proceeded to hit Larry Navarro with a pitch and walk Keith Yamamoto, loading the bases.  David Gonsalves comes off the mound to field a sacrifice bunt against Livingston. Then the Tigers’ Daniel Kifle provided his first clutch base knock of the game, slapping a two-run single to left field for a 4-2 lead. A Livingston passed ball moved Yamamoto and Kifle up a bag, putting them in scoring position for teammate Daniel Reza. Reza’s fielder’s choice plated Yamamoto and advanced Kifle to third. Tigers senior Waylon Berrios drove Kifle in with a two-out single driven past a diving Wolves shortstop. Patterson’s 6-2 lead, however, was an unsafe cushion, as the Wolves battled back in the third for three runs of their own. The score remained 6-5, in favor of the Tigers, until the fifth inning. Patterson’s defense slipped, allowing the Wolves a pair of runs and the lead. Trailing 7-6, the Tigers were called to do something that has eluded them throughout the 2008 campaign — score runs in the late innings of a closely contested game. But Josh Mendoza reached base on a fielder’s choice, and Plascencia followed his lead, slowly jogging to first after absorbing a Mendoza fastball to the forearm. Navarro dug in, pulling off the butcher boy play by faking a bunt and pulling the bat back just in time to strike a swinging single down the third-base line. Mendoza scored on the play, knotting the score at 7-7.  Josh Mendoza bobbles a grounder before making the throw to first bas to put out the Livingston batter. Another Livingston wild pitch advanced Plascencia and Navarro to second and third, respectively. That’s when Yamamoto — regarded around the Western Athletic Conference as a legitimate power threat — was intentionally walked to load the bases. Kifle patiently drew a walk of his own, allowing Plascencia to score the go-ahead run. Reza again fueled the Tigers’ momentum with a two-strike single down the left-field line, tacking two more runs to an increasing lead. The final blow of the inning was a blast off of the bat of Chris Chase that made the game 13-7. His gargantuan home run exploded off of his bat, one-hopping Las Palmas Avenue and bouncing off Las Palmas Middle School. “I knew that (Livingston’s pitcher) was throwing some heat,” Chase said. “Coach Josh Hamm told me to go ahead and choke up on the bat. I listened to him, and it helped me in that situation. I just got a hold of that one.” Reza came on in relief of Patterson starter David Gonsalves, pitching two scoreless innings and allowing the Tigers to come away with the victory. Hamm said the win was sweet, but what’s coming up could be even sweeter. “We’re looking to play the role of a spoiler,” he said. “It’s a great place to be in if you are not going to make the playoffs. We really want to take Hilmar down. This is big for the seniors, and we really want to end it for them with a three-game winning streak.” To reach Marc Aceves at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at marc@patterson irrigator.com
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