VALLEY ROUNDUP : Cal Lutheran Comeback Serves as Payback

Cal Lutheran first baseman John Becker said he’ll never completely forget the disappointment from last year’s NCAA Division III Regional playoff series against UC San Diego, but Monday sure helped.

Becker’s second home run of the game, a three-run shot with two out in the 11th inning, tied a nonconference game against the Tritons at Cal Lutheran. The Kingsmen won, 10-9, in the 13th on a run-scoring double by Ray Arvizu.

As the Kingsmen celebrated their third victory in three outings this season against UC San Diego, many players were probably thinking about last year’s best-of-five Regional series, when Cal Lutheran blew a two-game lead.

“It’s a good feeling,” Becker said, “but it’ll never wipe out last year. It is a better feeling to know that they aren’t going to the Regionals this year and we still have a shot.”

Cal Lutheran (22-10), ranked ninth in the nation in the latest Division III poll, sits atop the pack of teams fighting to join third-ranked La Verne in the two-team West Regional. UC San Diego (17-13), which is ranked 30th, also was a contender, although the Tritons’ hopes faded significantly Monday.

The game was as ugly as it was dramatic. Cal Lutheran made six errors and UC San Diego made four. The most costly was Triton center fielder Jason Aguilar’s error in the bottom of the ninth.

With two out, a runner at first and Cal Lutheran trailing, 6-5, Becker singled up the middle and Aguilar let the ball roll through his legs and to the fence. The tying run scored easily.

But Cal Lutheran needed another rally after UC San Diego scored three runs in the top of the 11th. The Kingsmen managed to get runners to first and second with Two out for Becker, though. Cal Lutheran Coach Marty Slimak told his hitters to take a strike, except for No. 3 hitter Becker and cleanup hitter Jeff Marks.

Becker drilled the first pitch over the left-field fence, tying the score. His second home run of the game gave him a team-leading nine. He moved into second place on the school’s all-time list with 23.

In the 13th, No. 9 hitter Chad Sixt led off with a single and took second base on another misplay by Aguilar in center field. Arvizu ripped a shot to left field that took one hop and went over the fence.

Jesus Melgoza (4-2), Cal Lutheran’s third pitcher, pitched the final 2 2/3 innings to pick up the victory.