2008 Woodie Awards
There's No "I" In This "Team"
Valley improves to 2-0 on season after 11-5 victory over Mission College.
Nick Santoni
Issue date: 3/1/06 Section: Sports
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The nucleus of last season's championship squad may no longer be seen on the Valley College baseball diamond. But this year's team contains new players eager to prove they can be just as successful. And after the Monarchs gave the Mission College Eagles a good 11-5 butt kicking Saturday, improving to 2-0 on the season, things look promising.
"We have become a close group," said third baseman Thomas Cassidy on the team's positive start. "We no longer have our MVP Eddie Baez, but we play team ball. This is what will keep this year's team a conference threat."
The Monarchs were able to demonstrate the "team" effort that they pride themselves on, but not before a shaky start.
Monarch starting pitcher Daniel Yaacobi had a bout of first inning nerves. He surrendered two runs after a walk and a couple of base hits. But the right-hander would settle down, shutting out Mission in the remaining four innings of his debut. Yaacobi pitched five innings to earn the victory, allowing two runs on just four hits.
"I didn't have my composure at the start," said Yaacobi, who ended up striking out three and walking two. "I got settled in after that, but it sure helps when the team starts hitting the way it did today."
And hit they did.
Valley had 15 hits after all was said and done. And they got to Mission's starter in the third. With one out and runners at the corners, clean-up hitting first baseman Jordan Sisson would double to right, driving in two and knotting the score at 2. To cap off the inning, right-fielder Leandro Dottavio doubled in Garrett Shimmamoto, and the Monarchs took a 4-2 lead. This would be the start of Valley's offensive onslaught.
The Monarchs scored two more runs in the fourth. The first coming on second baseman Chris Cervantes' first of two doubles on the day, and their second after shortstop Grant Boman singled in Cervantes. Valley's hitting became contagious.
Cassidy led off the Monarch fifth with a single to right, and then Sisson was hit by an inside pitch, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Next, Shimmamoto singled to right to drive in Cassidy. Mission yanked their struggling starter, turning to the bullpen for help. But, the results would be no different. Three consecutive hits off the mission reliever, an RBI line drive from Dottavio, a single by outfielder Ivan Gonzalez, and a double by Fernandez gave the Monarchs a 10-2 advantage.
Valley would score once more in the eighth Inning giving head coach Dave Mallas an opportunity to give pitchers John Henry Jacobs, Tae Kwon, Jordan Brandt, and Kevin Cohn each an inning on the rubber Jacobs would give up one run in the sixth, and Cohn two in the ninth, but it was too little too late for the Eagles
Mallas vows that if the team continues to play consistent and smart, they'll be in the same position they were in last year--atop the Western Conference.
"We're playing well from top to bottom," said Mallas. "We've been getting clutch hits, our defense remains strong, and our pitching always gives us a chance."
Then Mallas echoed Cassidy's sentiments. "It's always great to have a guy like a "Baez" on your team. But, I'd rather have a whole team playing hard than a couple guys putting up big numbers. Consistency is the key."
Valley will face Bakersfield at home Thursday, with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
"We have become a close group," said third baseman Thomas Cassidy on the team's positive start. "We no longer have our MVP Eddie Baez, but we play team ball. This is what will keep this year's team a conference threat."
The Monarchs were able to demonstrate the "team" effort that they pride themselves on, but not before a shaky start.
Monarch starting pitcher Daniel Yaacobi had a bout of first inning nerves. He surrendered two runs after a walk and a couple of base hits. But the right-hander would settle down, shutting out Mission in the remaining four innings of his debut. Yaacobi pitched five innings to earn the victory, allowing two runs on just four hits.
"I didn't have my composure at the start," said Yaacobi, who ended up striking out three and walking two. "I got settled in after that, but it sure helps when the team starts hitting the way it did today."
And hit they did.
Valley had 15 hits after all was said and done. And they got to Mission's starter in the third. With one out and runners at the corners, clean-up hitting first baseman Jordan Sisson would double to right, driving in two and knotting the score at 2. To cap off the inning, right-fielder Leandro Dottavio doubled in Garrett Shimmamoto, and the Monarchs took a 4-2 lead. This would be the start of Valley's offensive onslaught.
The Monarchs scored two more runs in the fourth. The first coming on second baseman Chris Cervantes' first of two doubles on the day, and their second after shortstop Grant Boman singled in Cervantes. Valley's hitting became contagious.
Cassidy led off the Monarch fifth with a single to right, and then Sisson was hit by an inside pitch, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Next, Shimmamoto singled to right to drive in Cassidy. Mission yanked their struggling starter, turning to the bullpen for help. But, the results would be no different. Three consecutive hits off the mission reliever, an RBI line drive from Dottavio, a single by outfielder Ivan Gonzalez, and a double by Fernandez gave the Monarchs a 10-2 advantage.
Valley would score once more in the eighth Inning giving head coach Dave Mallas an opportunity to give pitchers John Henry Jacobs, Tae Kwon, Jordan Brandt, and Kevin Cohn each an inning on the rubber Jacobs would give up one run in the sixth, and Cohn two in the ninth, but it was too little too late for the Eagles
Mallas vows that if the team continues to play consistent and smart, they'll be in the same position they were in last year--atop the Western Conference.
"We're playing well from top to bottom," said Mallas. "We've been getting clutch hits, our defense remains strong, and our pitching always gives us a chance."
Then Mallas echoed Cassidy's sentiments. "It's always great to have a guy like a "Baez" on your team. But, I'd rather have a whole team playing hard than a couple guys putting up big numbers. Consistency is the key."
Valley will face Bakersfield at home Thursday, with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
