FREDDY GONZALEZ | Valley Morning Star
SANTA ROSA — After starting their Class 3A bi-district playoff series on a euphoric high Thursday, the Santa Warriors went through some devastating lows Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field.
Santa Gertrudis rallied from a 4-1 loss on Thursday to grab two consecutive victories (4-2 extra innings, 8-7) on the road and take a 2-1 series win.
“We had several missed opportunities in both Game 2 and Game 3,” said Santa Rosa head coach Steven Mendoza. “Going back to Game 2, we actually could have ended the game in the seventh inning because we had bases load and one out, but we suffered a mental breakdown. But we had base loaded so many times and we just couldn’t get those runs across the plate.”
After Game 2 went into extra innings, the Warriors began Game 3 on a positive note by taking a 2-0 lead in top of the first inning. Michael Bermea and Abraham Medina both scored to give the Warriors some inspiration. However, Kingsville had other plans and immediately scored two runs of its own and added a third on a bases-loaded walk to take a 3-2 advantage after the first.
Seeing pitcher Ryan Garza struggle in the first, Coach Mendoza took a big risk and replaced Garza with sophomore Bermea, who closed our the first inning. Saturday marked Bermea’s first official time on the mound this season.
“He’s wanted the ball all year and he’s a heck of an athlete,” said Mendoza about Bermea. “I rolled the dice out there and if we’re going to lose, we’re going to lose with him.
“He pitched us out of a jam in the first when we had the bases loaded, and he came on and cleaned up. This was his first time on the mound, but he’s always wanted the ball and he’s just a big-time player.”
Undeterred after going down 3-2 in the first, Santa Rosa went on the offensive again and found two more runs in the top of the second for a 5-3 lead.
Up 6-4 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Santa Gertrudis found four big runs in the bottom of the fourth to carry the team to the series win.
The Warriors did get one run back in the top of the sixth but they could not get the tying run.
“We had our chances, but we just didn’t capitalize,” reiterated Coach Mendoza. “We had a big throwing error when they scored four runs in one inning and if you eliminate that throwing error it’s 7-7 going into the final inning.”