PANTHER BASEBALL UPSETS #2 SADDLEBACK

Saturday's home game vs Saddleback was cut short due to rain but five innings was all it took for Panther Baseball to upset #2 state ranked Saddleback 6-1.

Scoreless in the first for both teams, Chaffey took a decisive 4-0 lead in the second off two doubles and two wild pitches.  Nate Slaman started the rally out with a single to get on base to open the bottom of the 2nd.  He then stole second.  Next up, Javier Mendez doubled to leftfield bringing Slaman across home to put the Panthers on the board.  A single by Steven Mara and walk by Ricky Mejia loaded the bases and then a Bobcat wild pitch gave the trio the opportunity to move and Mejia crossed the plate for run two of the inning.  With two outs, Matthew Chavez knocked a double to score Mejia and Mara and the Panthers grabbed a four-run lead and broke the scoreless game.

Another wild pitch scenario allowed Bradley Chesterton to take home in the 3rd.  In the 4th, Jared Bujanda walked, stole second, advanced on a passed ball and then stole home; Panthers up 6-0.

In the top of the 5th, the Bobcats scored one run off of Brynden Rodriguez who gave up only two hits in the five-inning game.  "Brynden was outstanding through five innings," said Head Coach Andy Smith.  "He kept an excellent offense at bay.  Overall, we overcame some difficult elements and did enough with the bats and on the bases to come out on top of this one."

The Panthers are on the road tomorrow and Thursday and will host Victor Valley at Claremont High School on Saturday at 1pm.