Panther JV Baseball Enjoying Success

The Benicia High School junior varsity baseball team captured the American Canyon  Tournament crown on Friday, beating  Rodriguez High in a nail biter, 9-8.  "This is a great win for us both as a confidence builder but also as a learning opportunity," said Nelson.  "We have to get better defensively if we want to win league this year."

On Thursday, the panthers beat Napa 7-4 to advance to the championship game.  Jared Clemons, Vance Parker and Andre Goodall combined to hold the Indians to  to four runs on eight hits. 

Down 4-3 going into the bottom of sixth inning, Evan Burford led off  with a single. A series of walks and a Napa throwing error  opened the door for a four-run inning.   Kyle Blakeman went 2-4 with a run scored.

"This tournament exposed our defensive weaknesses against 'small ball' teams like Napa and Rodriguez," said Nelson.

In the championship game against Rodriguez High, Steven Daini doubled in a run in the first.  In the third, Andrew Wheat singled, Clayton Reza drew a walk and both scored on a Rodriguez throwing error. 

The Panthers looked to go ahead for good in the fifth inning, scoring five runs on timely singles by Jaden Lane, Will Koenen and Kyle Blakeman.  Blakeman also tripled and scored in the fourth.    

Hudson Bishop caught every inning of the tournament and his bat came alive in the championship, going 2-2 with a run scored.  Jaden Lane threw six solid innings for the Panthers but a series of errors and miscues opened the door for the Mustangs.

In the bottom of  the seventh inning, with the Panthers leading 9-5, Rodriguez came roaring back.  The Mustangs led off with a pair singles sandwiched around an error at shortstop.   Another pair of singles, both with two strikes, sent Goodall  to the bench and the winning pitcher from Wednesday's game, Steven Daini came on the retire the side.  Daini’s save opportunity started dubiously with a misplayed bunt resulting in Rodriguez scoring its eighth run. 

With the bases loaded, no outs and the Panthers lead down to one run, Daini calmly struck out the second batter he faced and then gotthe next bater to hit into a double play to end the game.

“Steven was definitely the hero on Friday," said Coach Cliff Nelson.   "He’s got ice in his veins.  To have that kind of poise and confidence as a freshman is a very rare commodity."   

"Luckily, we did our thing and got the big innings that we’re always looking for.  My message to the kids is simple:  you’ve got to keep getting better or you stop being good.  I think all the teams were a little rusty because of all the rain-outs so we’ve got to get to work Monday because we go to Rodriguez again on Wednesday and it looks like we’ll be battling them all season for the league title." Nelso concluded.

Wednesday's game is at Rodriguez High and begins at 4:00 p.m.