With at least a share of the Golden Empire League title already in their back pocket, the Pioneer High School varsity baseball left nothing to chance and wrapped up sole possesion of the championship when they completed the sweep of rivals Rio Linda 12-2 Friday night.
Despite giving up two runs at the top of the first, the Patriots never faltered and remained hot at the plate. They won in six innings via the 10-run mercy rule, wrapping up the program’s dynasty-like third GEL baseball title in four years.
“This title feels really good,” Patriots head coach Craig Marquez said. “We controlled our own destiny coming into this last game and came through and got it done. It tells you about this team and what they are looking to do. Three titles in four years is pretty good. It speaks well to the traditional and winning way for this whole program. There is no time to rebuild; we just reload.”
Led by senior pitcher Ben Reis on the mound and at the plate Friday at Rotary Field, Pioneer completed the league season with a 17-1 record, only losing one game to Casa Roble back on April 9.
Coming into the Friday evening series and league finale, the Patriots had enjoyed a massive 16-0 win Tuesday and a nervy 2-1 road win Thursday. The nervousness looked to continue in the series finale. The game began rather uncharacteristically for the surging Patriots, who allowed 2 runs in the top of the first inning to go down right away.
“There always is a sense of here we go with high school baseball when you go down early if you are expected to win or need to win for a championship,” Marquez said. “But Ben (Reis) figured it all out after the first inning and started dealing after that.
“He came out with a walk, and then an error led to two runs being scored, but he came back and dealt the rest of the game with it as his last home game as a senior.”
However, that deficit did not last long, as Pioneer responded right away after a passed ball during a Jack Cullion at-bat allowed Matias Michel to score and make it 2-1.
After a hot start, the action stalled until the bottom of the third inning, but boy, did it make up for the quiet second inning as Pioneer scored a back-breaking 9 runs to take a massive and insurmountable 10-2 lead.
Christian Reyes began the marathon to tie the game on another passed ball. Cullison then stepped up and smacked an RBI single, scoring Michel from third. After Cullison stole second base to get into scoring position, Sammy Sanchez brought him home to make it 4-2.
Damian Garcia then came to bat and hit a 2-RBI Single to make it 6-2. By now, Rio Linda was desperate to get out of the inning, but Pioneer never relented. Up until now, the Patriots had small-balled the Knights to death without any major fireworks. Luckily for those in attendance, Reis had a surprise in store.
With a runner on base and two outs, Reis destroyed a ball down the right-field line for a memorable home run, giving Pioneer an 8-2 lead.
“I DH for him quite a bit throughout the season, but this game, I let him swing because I know he can,” Marquez said. “He just ran into one and shot it out over by that tree in right. Some of the big guys haven’t hit a home run this year, so now they’re all looking up at him.”
RBI singles from Reyes and Van Court topped the 9-run inning off.
“Most of the runs in the third inning came with two outs,” Marquez recalled. “It’s just a testament to these guys and their approaches to the dish. It’s such a good group right now.”
In the bottom of the sixth, with the result no longer in question, Pioneer looked to end the game early via the 10-run mercy rule and did so after Cullison and Sanchez reached base safely to start the inning.
A passed ball once again allowed the Patriots to score a run as Cullions crossed the plate. With Dahler up to bat and one out, he calmly drove a ball out to center field, allowing Sanchez to easily score from third and give Pioneer the win and the GEL title.
After players ran to Sanchez to congratulate him, they bolted to second base to celebrate with Dahler.
Follwoing the game, Pioneer celebrated its nine seniors with a ceremony led by Marquez. Seniors on the team included Michel, Reis, Garcia, Reyes, David Ezrre, Christian Canchola, Simon Davison, Kiki Martinez and Shawn Amato.
“They have been so important this season,” Marquez said. “Everyone comes up and contributes every day. Each team is different and has a different heartbeat, but these guys are all near and dear to my heart. It feels great that this group of seniors went out with the best record in the league we have had in a few years. 17-1 in the league is tough to do in any sport.”
Pioneer will next have a week of non-league contests to prepare for the upcoming CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Playoffs, which will begin the first week of May. On Wednesday, they will host Wood out of Vacaville before traveling to Fairfield on Thursday, where they will take on Vanden. Both games are set for 4 p.m.
“We have two games next week, so I just want to rest up while keeping sharp,” Marquez said. “I hope we stay on top of our game so we are ready for May 7.”
