Falcons' Season Comes to an end

FOLSOM – Phoenix Casias kept the Sierra College Wolverines' season alive with one swing of the bat as he launched a game-winning, 2-run home in the bottom of the ninth for an 11-10 win, eliminating the host Folsom Lake College Falcons from this weekend's California Community College Athletic Association State Championship tournament on Sunday.

With the Wolverines (35-14) trailing, 10-9 and Joe Pilse on first base, courtesy of a leadoff walk, Casias found the pitch he liked and deposited it off the netting beyond the left-field fence, sending the Wolverines and their fans into a frenzy, while ending the Falcons' season at 36-13.

After falling behind 6-0 through the first 4 ½ innings of play, the Wolverines came to life and scored eight times in the bottom of the fifth inning to change the complexion of the entire game.

FLC regained its composure and responded with four two-out runs over the next two innings to take a 10-8 lead. Sierra scored a run in the bottom of the seventh and missed a pair of run-scoring opportunities in the seventh and eighth innings before Casias' heroics. Sierra pounded the depleted Falcons' pitching with a 21-hit attack, led by Casias, who went 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI. Five  different Wolverine players – Joshua Hardamon, Jack Weise, Andrew Paolini, Joe Pise and Dillon Wells – each had three hits each, with Wells added two runs and two RBI.

Relief pitcher Dylan Ranallo (3-0) picked up the win for Sierra, holding the Falcons to one run on two hits with four strikeouts over the final 3 1/3 innings.

With the win, Sierra survives and will play the third game of Day 2 against the loser of the Saddleback/Santa Ana matchup later tonight.

For the Falcons, Andrew Neil went 3-for-3 with three runs and an RBI, while Drake Digiono went 3-for-5 with one run and three RBI.

Story: Tony Altobelli, CCCSIA