COMMUNITY COLLEGE REGIONAL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Rancho Santiago Must Win 2 Today

Part of Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon’s plan worked when David Goldstein pitched a complete-game victory. It just came a day earlier than Sneddon would have liked.

Sneddon figured Goldstein would pitch the title game of the Southern California Regional playoffs today at Los Angeles Pierce College. But when the Dons lost the Saturday morning game to L.A. Pierce, Goldstein was needed in the afternoon.

He pitched a six-hitter as the Dons eliminated Mt. San Antonio, 11-2.

Pierce had rallied for three runs in the eighth and another in the ninth to beat Rancho Santiago, 5-4, earlier Saturday.

Rancho Santiago (30-13) must beat Pierce (32-6-1) twice today to advance to the State tournament. Game time is 11 a.m. A second will follow only if Rancho Santiago wins the first.

Ryan Filbeck (3-0) is expected to start for the Dons, who already have used their three best pitchers--Mike Fontana, J.J. Thobe and Goldstein--in the regional.

“This situation tests our character a little bit,” Sneddon said. “Hopefully, we can win two games. I still feel good about our chances.”

Goldstein (5-6) was pitching for the first time in two weeks and struggled at times, but got the leadoff hitter seven of nine times. He walked five and struck out six. He has 96 strikeouts this season, 169 in two seasons, and is three behind the Dons’ career record of 172 held by Jack Bailey (1988-89).

David Gonzalez continued his two-day assault against Mt. San Antonio pitching as he had two doubles and a triple, scored a run and drove in two more. He had a triple and two singles, scored two runs, and drove in three Friday in Rancho Santiago’s 9-7 victory over the Mounties.

Tony Truel had three hits and scored three runs and Tito Quiles had two hits and drove in two runs Saturday for Rancho Santiago against Mt. San Antonio. The Mounties (30-17) had advanced by eliminating Riverside, 9-5, earlier Saturday at Moorpark College. Riverside finishes at 28-15.

In another regional game:

Pierce 5, Rancho Santiago 4--Pierce’s come-from-behind victory was the fourth consecutive one in the playoffs for the Brahmas.

Rancho Santiago’s J.J. Thobe (9-4) pitched well but the Dons’ defense made too many mistakes before he allowed a three-run home run to Robby Wells with two outs in the eighth to tie it, 4-4.

Wells’ home run was his 14th of the season but it came in an at-bat that should not have happened.

With one out and a runner on first, Jason Cohen hit a ball sharply at Rancho Santiago first baseman Chris Lugo, but it went off his glove for an error.

Brian Smith then hit a chopper to third baseman Derek Brown, who raced to third for a force out, but his throw to first was high and Smith was safe. Thobe got ahead of Wells, no balls and two strikes, but Wells worked the count even before lining a flat knuckle-curve over the left-field fence.

Pierce got a run in the ninth to win it when Erik Martinez’s bases-loaded grounder went between the legs of shortstop Quiles.

Ricky Banuelos singled to open the ninth. Adam Pearlman then bunted and Thobe threw late to second. Paul Geller bunted and this time catcher Robin Lindsey threw late to third, bringing Martinez up.