The Bearcats clawed back from a game where they were up against a wall, and found a way to secure a win after entering the 7th inning down 1-3 to the Buena Bulldogs. The game was tied at 1-1 for the bulk of the game, but the Bulldogs finally got ahead with two runs in two innings, putting the Bearcats on the back foot for what would be a pressing final inning. Starting from second in the batting order, Sophomore Xander Hermanson fought through a long at bat to claim a walk, followed by junior Marcus Garcia smashing a double into the outfield that would have sent Hermanson home, only for him to get caught in a rundown. Sophomore Nate Contreras was next to step up, but before he was able to get a hit, Garcia had stolen third base with Buena unable to recognize in time. Contreras resumed his at bat, and got a base hit to send Garcia home, bringing the Bearcats within touch of tying this game.
Jaiden Soboleski (10) came up to bat next and quickly rose up to the occasion for another base hit, bringing the entire dugout to their feet. The Bearcats were rolling, and sophomore Casey Prieto continued spinning the wheels, getting another hit and bringing Contreras to third. Junior Talen Freitas walked up to the plate, already having a few hits that day. Freitas fought yet another prolonged at bat, and eventually managed to get a base hit, which Contreras unfortunately couldn’t capitalize on. There was still a man on third, but the pressure was on with two outs. Up stepped Braydon Hoier (12), on his birthday, with a chance to tie the game. No hesitation, first swing, Hoier sends Soboleski home to equal the score, and keeps Paso alive by getting to first base safely. The bases were loaded, the game was tied, and, is that Star Wars music?
Junior Chris Glover was up to bat, walking up to The Imperial March with the game on the line. It sounds like something out of a movie, but the scriptwriters still had more to give. The Bulldog pitcher was already shook, and left Glover with too much to swing at. He hooked the ball deep into left field, and it kept going. And it cleared the fence, the only problem: it was mere feet away from staying in. It went foul, and Glover resumed his at bat by reaching for a pitch low. It seemed too good to be true, and that extra innings would be inevitable. But Glover stepped up again, and launched a hit into the gap for the Bearcats to walk off their official home opener.
Bearcat Baseball returns to action and faces the Lompoc Braves on Friday, March 7 at Barnhart Field at Paso Robles High School.
