Warrior baseball back in good shape after wins against Rancho Bernardo, Valley Center

The varsity Warriors baseball team played the previously undefeated Rancho Bernardo Broncos March 29. As of that day, the Broncos had been winning games all season and had an 11-0 record before challenging the Warriors.

It was a rough first inning for the Warriors. The Broncos’ first three starting batters all made base hits — first Bronco up to bat hit the ball to deep center, the second hit a line drive and the third hit a double deep into left field, resulting in two Broncos scoring. The next two Broncos batters were struck out by Warriors pitcher Mike Leake, and the next Broncos hit was scooped up and thrown to first for the third out.

In the bottom of the first, Fallbrook’s starting hitter, David Plante, made it to second base after his hard base hit. The Broncos’ pitcher, John Dutton, struck out the next two following batters. Plante remained on base and made a stolen base attempt, but the Broncos catcher’s quick throw got to the baseman before Plante could tag base.

In the second inning, Leake made one strikeout and walked one hitter. James Borges made a double play with the help of second baseman Ryan Smith. With the Warriors up to bat, Borges’ hit was caught on the fly, Cody Burgener was struck out and Ryan Smith’s hit was also caught on the fly, ending the inning.

Warriors Borges and Smith made another double play in the third inning and a pop fly was caught in left field, bringing the Warriors up to bat again. Opening hitter Joey Mellano was struck out after he hit a foul ball. Zane Chavez came up next and hit a grounder but was thrown out at first. Aaron Larsen went to first after he was walked, Plante was intentionally walked and with two men on, Leake struck out on a full count.

Leake returned to the mound and struck out all three fourth-inning batters. Eric Castro came up to lead off the fourth inning for the Warriors and was struck out, Borges’ hit was stopped at second base and Burgener’s strikeout was the last of the inning.

In the fifth inning, Leake’s pitches were hit softly by the Broncos’ batters and the first three batters were all out before they reached first base. Smith led off the fifth inning for the Warriors with his base hit single, and Mellano bunted to advance Smith to second. With one out, Chavez made a base hit and put Smith on third base. Larsen bunted and gained an RBI before the Broncos made a double play on Plante’s hit.

Smith made his third double play of the game in the sixth inning and made the third out, right after his double play, finishing the inning.

Leake opened the sixth inning scoring spree with a base hit single. Castro batted next and was struck out while Leak stole second base. Borges’ next hit advanced Leake to third base and Borges stopped on first. Burgener’s next hit bounced over the second baseman, Leake scored and the game was tied 2-2. The next batters, Smith and Mellano, were both walked to first. Borges scored after Mellano’s walk and the bases were still loaded 3-2.

Chavez got a good hit that bounced over the second baseman’s glove. Burgener and Smith both got to home base before the Broncos could recover the ball. Plante got walked to first base and Leake made it around the batting order for his second time batting in the sixth inning. The score was 5-2 just before Leake’s base hit drove in Mellano to settle the score at 6-2.

The Broncos returned to the plate for their last at-bats of the game after being out-batted by the Warriors’ strong batting lineup. The Broncos had one hit in the seventh but racked up three outs before they could score.

The Broncos’ undefeated times were over, as their record after the Warrior game became 11-1. The Warriors’ record of 7-4 increased to 8-4 after they defeated the Valley Center Jaguars two days later with a score of 9-1.

Larsen made great work of his pitching during the Jaguars/Warriors game, making ten strikeouts on the Valley Center Jaguars’ batters and limiting the Jaguars to one run.