jchambers@oakdaleleader.com
When it looked like the Riverbank High varsity baseball team seemed unable to do anything right, the squad turned to one another and pulled out a 6-3 extra inning, come-from-behind victory over the Ripon Christian Knights on Friday, March 20.
Riverbank showed true resiliency, pushing the game into extra frames by tying things up 2-2 with a run in the top of the seventh. Getting the game into the bonus play time simply would not be enough for the Bruins, as the squad went on to score four runs in the top of the eighth inning to grab their first Trans-Valley League victory in over 40 contests.
Sammy Johnson played the role of the hero, changing the Bruins' season outlook with a bases-loaded double in the Bruins' chance, clearing the bases and placing Riverbank's first league victory into the win column.
Riverbank's Marcus Sahagun kept his squad in it, stroking a single in the seventh inning, stealing second and then plating one of the Bruins' more important runs on a base hit by teammate David Lopez.
The victory is a huge ray of hope for the up-and-coming Bruin program. Riverbank head coach Ismael Mercado is in his second full season as the skip for the Bruins and the victory could not have come at a better time.
The Knights already dropped a pair of one-run games to TVL counterpart Hughson, keeping the Ripon Christian squad still in search of their first win as well as underneath the Bruins in the TVL standings.
The Bruins will attempt to take advantage of back-to-back home games when they welcome the Hughson Huskies on March 25 followed by a March 27 showdown with the Ripon Indians.
The Huskies only have one setback on the TVL season and it was a one-sided 8-0 loss to the undefeated Escalon Cougars. The Indians, like Hughson, have only been beaten once in league play and that was a 4-2 loss at home against the Huskies.
Both contests are scheduled for 4 p.m. first pitches.
When it looked like the Riverbank High varsity baseball team seemed unable to do anything right, the squad turned to one another and pulled out a 6-3 extra inning, come-from-behind victory over the Ripon Christian Knights on Friday, March 20.
Riverbank showed true resiliency, pushing the game into extra frames by tying things up 2-2 with a run in the top of the seventh. Getting the game into the bonus play time simply would not be enough for the Bruins, as the squad went on to score four runs in the top of the eighth inning to grab their first Trans-Valley League victory in over 40 contests.
Sammy Johnson played the role of the hero, changing the Bruins' season outlook with a bases-loaded double in the Bruins' chance, clearing the bases and placing Riverbank's first league victory into the win column.
Riverbank's Marcus Sahagun kept his squad in it, stroking a single in the seventh inning, stealing second and then plating one of the Bruins' more important runs on a base hit by teammate David Lopez.
The victory is a huge ray of hope for the up-and-coming Bruin program. Riverbank head coach Ismael Mercado is in his second full season as the skip for the Bruins and the victory could not have come at a better time.
The Knights already dropped a pair of one-run games to TVL counterpart Hughson, keeping the Ripon Christian squad still in search of their first win as well as underneath the Bruins in the TVL standings.
The Bruins will attempt to take advantage of back-to-back home games when they welcome the Hughson Huskies on March 25 followed by a March 27 showdown with the Ripon Indians.
The Huskies only have one setback on the TVL season and it was a one-sided 8-0 loss to the undefeated Escalon Cougars. The Indians, like Hughson, have only been beaten once in league play and that was a 4-2 loss at home against the Huskies.
Both contests are scheduled for 4 p.m. first pitches.
