Saddleback’s Poe Shuts Out Cypress
With the bases loaded in the seventh inning, Saddleback Coach Jack Hodges was getting ready to make a move.
He had a couple of relievers warming up but starter Ryan Poe got a strikeout and a fly out to end the threat. Poe then finished by retiring six of the last seven in host Saddleback’s 6-0 victory over Cypress in the community college regional baseball playoffs Friday.
“Just when you think he’s getting tired,” Hodges said, “Poe steps it up a lot. The bottom line is he was making quality pitches.”
Poe, a sophomore right-hander, pitched an eight-hitter to improve to 14-1. It was his 10th consecutive victory, his fifth complete game, and his second consecutive shutout in the playoffs.
Poe, who was the Orange Empire Conference pitcher of the year, saw his teammates in the bullpen but never believed he was going to come out.
“He wouldn’t take me out,” Poe said. “He knows better.”
Poe finished with six strikeouts, no walks and hit two batters.
He also made a key contribution with his glove in the third inning. Cypress’ Brandon Pack and Ed Marquez started the inning with singles but Greg Cabral popped up his bunt attempt. Poe rushed in and made a diving catch.
He then threw to second force Pack who had gone to third, thinking the ball hit the ground. Cypress Coach Scott Pickler believed the same thing and tried to convince the umpires, but failed.
“I caught it,” said Poe, “I even had two hands on it.”
Cypress wasn’t as fortunate when it came to fielding.
The Chargers made three errors that led to four unearned runs against losing pitcher Steve Smyth (9-3).
First baseman Brandon Smith dropped a foul popup while fighting the sun in the third inning. The error gave Kirk Bolling another chance and he lined a home run over the left-center field fence two pitches later.
“You have to be lucky sometimes and we got lucky there,” Hodges said.
It was the 18th home run for Bolling, setting a single-season Saddleback record. Bolling, who had three runs batted in, was the co-Orange Empire Conference player of the year.
Jason Marion hit a home run in the first inning for Saddleback. It was his third in three playoff games and ninth of the season.
Saddleback (35-9) advances to play Cerritos (31-10) at 11 today at Saddleback. Cerritos beat Citrus, 13-4, also Friday. The winner moves to Sunday’s 11 a.m. championship game.
Cypress (24-22) plays Citrus (31-10) at 10 today at Orange Coast in an elimination game.
In another playoff game:
Santa Ana 4, Palomar 0--Rick Gonzalez hit a three-run homer in the first and Albert Rodgers had two hits for the Dons (32-13) in the other regional at Riverside.
Santa Ana advances to play Los Angeles Harbor (30-15) at 11 today in the second round. Harbor eliminated Santa Ana in the playoffs last season.
Greg Young (7-0) made his first start in more than a month after contracting mononucleosis and responded with a complete game. Young, a freshman left-hander, pitched a five-hitter with five strikeouts and one walk. He got 16 fly-ball outs, including 10 to right-fielder Michael Vento.
Palomar (30-7) plays Riverside (35-11) in an elimination game today at 10 at UC Riverside.