GCC goes out in 14
SYLMAR — The Glendale Community College baseball team had such a great regular season, the Vaqueros just didn’t seem to want it to end.
The Vaqueros just kept playing and playing and playing, before Glendale defeated L.A. Mission College, 8-6, in 14 innings at El Cariso Park in Sylmar on Thursday.
“We’ve been playing our best baseball the last two or three weeks of the year,” said Glendale Coach Chris Cicuto.
The Vaqueros clinched their second consecutive Western State South Conference title on Tuesday and they’ve now won seven of their last games to finish the regular season 25-10 overall and 16-5 in conference.
With the conference title wrapped up and only seeding for next week’s regional a question, Glendale didn’t have as much to play for as Mission (19-7, 12-9), which is battling for a postseason spot.
“We could have gone one of two ways,” said Cicuto, whose team is now looking forward to another hopeful run to the state tournament, after last season’s first-ever run. “We could have competed our butt off or we could have just mailed it in for the day. And our guys chose to make the right decision. That says a lot about your team. Our guys came out prepared, mentally focused and they wanted to win. That’s all they care about. They want to win. They want to compete.”
In the top of the 14th, Glendale’s Julian Jarrad doubled in teammate Matt McCallister, who had reached on a walk. Jarrad would later score on a throwing error.
It was Jarrad’s only hit of the day.
“I knew I hit it well,” the freshman said. “I’ve just been kind of unlucky all day, the past couple of weeks.”
Edgar Montes had three hits and two RBIs in the win. Pitcher Tyler Delzell tossed two scoreless innings, allowing no hits while striking out two for the victory.
Glendale swept Mission this season, but the final victory was far from straight-forward. In the top of the sixth inning, the Vaqueros extended their lead to 5-3 after four consecutive walks. But in the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles took a 6-5 advantage after knocking four consecutive singles.
In the top of the eighth, Montes drove in Chris Stroh to make the game 6-6, paving the way for the finish.
“We had a couple of good games for us recently,” Jarrad said. “It’s just good in the long run. It keeps us mentally strong knowing we can come back to win. I think we’re ready.”