2008 Woodie Awards
BASEBALL: Monarchs Conquer Seahawks in Western State Conference Rematch
Marco Elorreaga
Issue date: 3/29/06 Section: Sports
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The Valley College Monarchs defeated the Harbor College Seahawks Wednesday in a morale-boosting 10-9 win as the baseball team played with a heightened defense and a key offensive strategy of hitting the ball well.
The Seahawks didn't give up easily as they matched each stride the Monarchs took until right-fielder Leandro Dottavio secured the win with a grand slam over the left-field fence at the top of the seventh inning.
"I was glad that I got some runs in there because our offense hasn't been that good lately," said Dottavio. "I was glad that it went over the fence. I didn't think it was going out at first."
Although the team fared well throughout the game, the Monarchs battled from the first inning to stay one step ahead of the Seahawks, who battled with a plague of errors in the outfield while playing well in the infield, but that wasn't enough.
The Seahawks came out of the first inning on top with a 1-0 lead, but the Monarchs would answer back with three runs of their own at the top of the second as outfielder Ivan Gonzales brought home both Jordan Sisson and Dottavio with a grounder to center field.
"We've been up and down all season," said head coach Dave Mallas. "They've had their opportunities to get down on themselves, but they haven't. They're playing with a lot of pride and today was a tribute to their hard work and not giving up."
The Monarchs gave the Seahawks a 4-3 lead at the bottom of the fourth, but Valley didn't wait long to reclaim it. Shortstop Grant Bomann got a base hit right before third baseman Thomas Cassidy brought him home with a double to the wall, which would tie the game.
With Cassidy's tie-breaking run soon after in the fifth, Dottavio made the Seahawks squawk a little less as their mouths dropped in awe of the seventh inning grand slam making the score 9-4, Valley.
But Valley's dugout celebrated too early as the Seahawks took hold of the last two innings, establishing themselves as a team that could battle at the end. Two runs would come at the bottom of the seventh and three more at the bottom of the ninth by the Seahawks, while Valley would quietly score one more in the eighth.
"They're a quality club and we knew they weren't going to give up," said Mallas. "Hopefully, we can build off this. By now, we're going to start the second half of conference, so hopefully we can take this momentum and end up strong."
Valley will face Mission College next at home on Thursday at 2 p.m.
The Seahawks didn't give up easily as they matched each stride the Monarchs took until right-fielder Leandro Dottavio secured the win with a grand slam over the left-field fence at the top of the seventh inning.
"I was glad that I got some runs in there because our offense hasn't been that good lately," said Dottavio. "I was glad that it went over the fence. I didn't think it was going out at first."
Although the team fared well throughout the game, the Monarchs battled from the first inning to stay one step ahead of the Seahawks, who battled with a plague of errors in the outfield while playing well in the infield, but that wasn't enough.
The Seahawks came out of the first inning on top with a 1-0 lead, but the Monarchs would answer back with three runs of their own at the top of the second as outfielder Ivan Gonzales brought home both Jordan Sisson and Dottavio with a grounder to center field.
"We've been up and down all season," said head coach Dave Mallas. "They've had their opportunities to get down on themselves, but they haven't. They're playing with a lot of pride and today was a tribute to their hard work and not giving up."
The Monarchs gave the Seahawks a 4-3 lead at the bottom of the fourth, but Valley didn't wait long to reclaim it. Shortstop Grant Bomann got a base hit right before third baseman Thomas Cassidy brought him home with a double to the wall, which would tie the game.
With Cassidy's tie-breaking run soon after in the fifth, Dottavio made the Seahawks squawk a little less as their mouths dropped in awe of the seventh inning grand slam making the score 9-4, Valley.
But Valley's dugout celebrated too early as the Seahawks took hold of the last two innings, establishing themselves as a team that could battle at the end. Two runs would come at the bottom of the seventh and three more at the bottom of the ninth by the Seahawks, while Valley would quietly score one more in the eighth.
"They're a quality club and we knew they weren't going to give up," said Mallas. "Hopefully, we can build off this. By now, we're going to start the second half of conference, so hopefully we can take this momentum and end up strong."
Valley will face Mission College next at home on Thursday at 2 p.m.
