Central Valley eliminates Cardinals

Tanner McIntyre crushed a game-tying, two-run home run in the second inning to cap the Corning varsity baseball team’s 5-1 comeback effort, but the fifth-seeded Cardinals ended up losing to No. 4 host Central Valley in the Division II playoff opener Friday night, 10-6, at Shasta Lake City’s P.U.D. Field.

Corning drew first blood offensively, scoring in the top of the first as Nick Simcox hit a two-out single up the middle and scored on a double into the right-center gap by Drew Rogers.

The Falcons answered in the bottom of the first, however, managing three hits against McIntyre, two for extra bases. Combined with two errors, however, CV notched five runs to pull ahead, 5-1, despite only two of the runs being earned.

Evan Mulliner reached on an error and Blake Goss drew a base on balls to open Corning’s comeback rally. Jordan Raygoza sacrificed his teammates into scoring position with a bunt and Miguel Avila grounded out to the right side, cutting the Cardinals’ deficit to 5-2. Patrick Bixby reached base on a strikeout, as the dropped third strike was thrown wildly to first, scoring Goss. McIntyre followed with a laser shot into the red earth behind the fence in left-center field, knotting the score at 5.

Central Valley scored two more unearned runs in the third to re-take the lead, 7-5, and the Falcons punched three more across in the fourth. McIntyre was relieved at that point, having giving up 10 runs (four earned) on nine hits with four walks, a hit batsman and six strikeouts.

The left-handed Goss retired six straight hitters to finish the Falcons offensively, but Corning could not rally again.

In the sixth, there was a glimmer of hope for Corning as Goss led off with a sharp single to the opposite field. Avila singled up the middle and Bixby walked to load the bases. After a wild pitch brought in one run, McIntyre was hit by a pitch to keep the bases juiced. But with one out and the heart of the order coming up — Corning failed to produce any more runs.

Justin Devers drew a pinch-hit walk with one out in the seventh and Goss singled again, but consecutive strikeouts ended the Cardinals’ season.
McIntyre is tied for second in the Northern Section in strikeouts for a pitcher and despite losing five straight decisions, he also remains in the top 10 in the state.

The Cardinals’ season ended with a record of 10-13 (5-5 NAL).