2008 Woodie Awards
BASEBALL: Monarchs Edged by Cougars 8-7
Nick Santoni
Issue date: 3/22/06 Section: Sports
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In a seesaw battle featuring four homeruns and five lead changes, the Valley College Monarchs came up short against the College of the Canyons Cougars Saturday, losing 8-7. Despite the loss, Valley played probably their best game of the year-The team never quit, and laid it out all out on the field till the final 'out' had been called.
"Although we lost, we played hard for the whole nine innings," said head coach Dave Mallas. "When we got down, we'd come back…they picked each other up today and that's something that the team can build on. It was the best game they've played all year."
Third baseman Thomas Cassidy sparked the Monarch cheers in the dugout leading off the top of the second inning with a solo shot that gave Valley a quick 1-0 lead, but the Cougars would strike back.
The Cougars got the run back in the bottom half of the inning, and two more in the third after a couple base hits and a sacrifice fly.
But the Monarchs did not stay down for long.
A four-run fifth inning was highlighted by a three-run blast to left-center field by first baseman Jordan Sisson, and the Monarchs reclaimed a 5-3 advantage.
"Like coach said, even though this game was a loss we made strides in the right direction," said Sisson. "While it didn't end up going our way, we made progress and didn't hold our heads down when we could have. We just kept battling…unfortunately we came up a bit short."
The Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run shot of their own.
Apparently power was on display for the Saturday afternoon contest.
After all was said and done, four different players had gone deep-and the third and last one for Valley came off the bat of Julian Gestewitz in the eighth-a rope over the left-field wall.
But while the Monarchs showed tenacity in keeping a comeback alive, they were to be demoralized for the last time.
After tying the game at seven runs a piece in the top of the eighth, the Monarchs would give a run right back to the Cougars on their very next at bat creating a must-score situation for Valley in the ninth.
"Although we lost, we played hard for the whole nine innings," said head coach Dave Mallas. "When we got down, we'd come back…they picked each other up today and that's something that the team can build on. It was the best game they've played all year."
Third baseman Thomas Cassidy sparked the Monarch cheers in the dugout leading off the top of the second inning with a solo shot that gave Valley a quick 1-0 lead, but the Cougars would strike back.
The Cougars got the run back in the bottom half of the inning, and two more in the third after a couple base hits and a sacrifice fly.
But the Monarchs did not stay down for long.
A four-run fifth inning was highlighted by a three-run blast to left-center field by first baseman Jordan Sisson, and the Monarchs reclaimed a 5-3 advantage.
"Like coach said, even though this game was a loss we made strides in the right direction," said Sisson. "While it didn't end up going our way, we made progress and didn't hold our heads down when we could have. We just kept battling…unfortunately we came up a bit short."
The Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run shot of their own.
Apparently power was on display for the Saturday afternoon contest.
After all was said and done, four different players had gone deep-and the third and last one for Valley came off the bat of Julian Gestewitz in the eighth-a rope over the left-field wall.
But while the Monarchs showed tenacity in keeping a comeback alive, they were to be demoralized for the last time.
After tying the game at seven runs a piece in the top of the eighth, the Monarchs would give a run right back to the Cougars on their very next at bat creating a must-score situation for Valley in the ninth.
