Loss shuts door on Tigers’ playoff hopes
May 12, 2010 | 628 views | 0 
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Tyler Bettencourt struck out two batters over seven innings and Cody Weinzheimer hit a two-run homer, leading the Patterson High baseball team to a 9-2 victory over host Livingston on May 4 in the opener of the teams’ two-game series.
Patterson dropped the second game of the home-and-home set, however, on Thursday, May 6.
With the 8-6 loss, Patterson (7-14-1 overall, 5-8 Western Athletic Conference) is now mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.
The Tigers came out swinging in their first game against the second-place Wolves.
Livingston (17-6, 10-3) scored a run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but after that, the May 4 game was all Patterson.
The Tigers erupted for seven runs in the third to seize control of the contest and were led by Weinzheimer, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Teammates Bettencourt, Gabe Gonzalez and Frankie Sanchez each added two hits. Patterson collectively pounded out a season-high 12 hits.
A three-run seventh inning wasn’t enough in the second game of the series, however.
An improbable rally fell just short when senior Jake Saavedra popped out behind home plate with the bases loaded.
Patterson trailed 8-2 in the seventh before the stirring comeback.
Saavedra started the Tigers’ seventh-inning rally with a single to right field; Bettencourt followed with a walk; and Nate Mayoral rolled a base hit to center field to load the bases.
Weinzheimer later cracked a two-run single to left field, scoring Saavedra and Bettencourt, cutting the Wolves’ advantage to 8-4.
With runners on first and second, Sanchez ripped a double down the third-base line, plating Mayoral and making it 8-5.
After back-to-back strikeouts, however, Patterson found itself back in a hole.
But Tigers’ slugger Andrew Sciaky patiently worked the pitch count and drove a 3-2 fastball back up the middle for an RBI and an 8-6 deficit.
Pinch hitter Johnny Ginestra then drew a walk to reload the bags for Patterson, setting the table for Saavedra, who initially ignited the Tigers’ comeback.
Saavedra — an aggressive hitter by nature — looked at a few pitches before taking a swing. But his bat caught only enough of the Livingston offering to pop the ball harmlessly behind home plate, where the Wolves’ catcher squeezed the game’s final out.
Patterson will close its season at home against Hilmar on Thursday, May 13.
• Contact Marc Aceves at 892-6187 or marc@pattersonirrigator.com.
Patterson dropped the second game of the home-and-home set, however, on Thursday, May 6.
With the 8-6 loss, Patterson (7-14-1 overall, 5-8 Western Athletic Conference) is now mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.
The Tigers came out swinging in their first game against the second-place Wolves.
Livingston (17-6, 10-3) scored a run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but after that, the May 4 game was all Patterson.
The Tigers erupted for seven runs in the third to seize control of the contest and were led by Weinzheimer, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Teammates Bettencourt, Gabe Gonzalez and Frankie Sanchez each added two hits. Patterson collectively pounded out a season-high 12 hits.
A three-run seventh inning wasn’t enough in the second game of the series, however.
An improbable rally fell just short when senior Jake Saavedra popped out behind home plate with the bases loaded.
Patterson trailed 8-2 in the seventh before the stirring comeback.
Saavedra started the Tigers’ seventh-inning rally with a single to right field; Bettencourt followed with a walk; and Nate Mayoral rolled a base hit to center field to load the bases.
Weinzheimer later cracked a two-run single to left field, scoring Saavedra and Bettencourt, cutting the Wolves’ advantage to 8-4.
With runners on first and second, Sanchez ripped a double down the third-base line, plating Mayoral and making it 8-5.
After back-to-back strikeouts, however, Patterson found itself back in a hole.
But Tigers’ slugger Andrew Sciaky patiently worked the pitch count and drove a 3-2 fastball back up the middle for an RBI and an 8-6 deficit.
Pinch hitter Johnny Ginestra then drew a walk to reload the bags for Patterson, setting the table for Saavedra, who initially ignited the Tigers’ comeback.
Saavedra — an aggressive hitter by nature — looked at a few pitches before taking a swing. But his bat caught only enough of the Livingston offering to pop the ball harmlessly behind home plate, where the Wolves’ catcher squeezed the game’s final out.
Patterson will close its season at home against Hilmar on Thursday, May 13.
• Contact Marc Aceves at 892-6187 or marc@pattersonirrigator.com.
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