Cats storm back to beat Griffins
Cats break out golden vests in comeback win
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 1 |
The Saddleback baseball team rallied for a 4-3 win at Grossmont College on Saturday in El Cajon. The Bobcats broke out the golden vests in rallying for the win.
Saddleback entered the game on Saturday trying to bounce back from a disappointing loss at San Diego Mesa College on Wednesday. The Bobcats opted to break out the golden vests, something that became a superstitious rallying point when they won the state title in 2024.
Saddleback took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning when Jack Borges led off with a triple and came around to score on a groundout from Jacob Hudson to put the Bobcats out in front.
Saddleback's bats then went quiet for the next five innings, allowing Grossmont to take a 3-1 lead into the seventh inning. The Bobcats then cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning when Hudson led off with a walk and later scored on a single from Joey Doskocil.
Saddleback then tied game in the top half of the eighth inning when Borges led off the inning with a homer to right field to even the score (3-3). It was the second home of the season for Borges and seemed to have the dugout believing in the golden vest mystique.
The Bobcats then took the lead with yet another run in the ninth inning, and again it was Borges who struck gold when he singled home Jake Natori with what would eventually be the winning run. Borges would finish 3-for-5 with two runs-scored and two RBI.
Saddleback started Ryan Rios on the mound, and he pitched into the sixth inning before giving way to Jack Gallison. The first order of business for Gallison was getting out of a bases-loaded jam after taking the mound with the bases loaded and only one out in the inning. Gallison responded with a strikeout and pop-up to keep the deficit at 3-1. He would pitch through the eighth inning, giving up no hits and no walks in pitching 2.2 innings of perfect ball. Saddleback then turned to Brennan Bauer in the ninth inning, who got himself into a mini jam but managed to get the final out on a groundout to the shortstop. Bauer earned his second save of the season by shutting down the Griffins.
Saddleback is now 10-6 overall to start the season. The Bobcats open Orange Empire Conference play on Tuesday when they host Santa Ana College. The Bobcats and Dons are scheduled to start at 2:00 PM at the Saddleback Baseball Complex.