Rams come up short against Cabrillo

Rams pitcher Jesse Navarro sprints to first base while Matt Schivo slides into second. Photo by Otto Pippenger, April 20 2017, Pacifica.

By: Robert Jalon

 

City College of San Francisco fell to a tough 1-0 home loss against non league opponent Cabrillo College on Saturday, April 8.

 

The rain cleared for City College at their home away from home, Carter Field in Pacifica and the Rams were looking to build on the recent 2-1 away win over Canada but would face a tough test in a Cabrillo College team that was riding a four game win streak.

 

New Rams Head Coach Mario Mendoza, who took the job on an interim label a month ago due to former head coach John Vanoncini’s stepping down due to health problems, was looking to build momentum for his young team as well, but it wasn’t to be on a day when the rain let up but the City College bats let him and Freshman Pitcher Jose Aguilera down. The Rams couldn’t get anything going and would leave four runners stranded along the basepaths and would scarcely make the Seahawk fielders work.

 

Aguilera was commanding though, working fastballs in with offspeed pitches and would leave the game in the eighth inning after giving up five hits and only one earned run while striking out five. Afterwards Aguilera said that he, “Was glad I gave my chance a team to win by throwing strikes.” Rams Coach Mendoza said Aguilera, “Dominated,” but also that they went up against, “The best pitcher we’ve faced all year.”

 

As good as Aguilera was, Cabrillo College’s Sophomore right hander Cooper Krug was just as overwhelming for the Ram hitters, who had the benefit of a Cabrillo offense that did just enough to support him and help him squeeze out the close victory. He would exit the game having pitched seven innings of shutout baseball and giving up only four hits with seven strikeouts.

 

The pitchers duel broke open in the seventh inning after Cabrillo’s Digger Gugale-Sanchez tripled off Aguilera to open the inning. He would score on a sacrifice fly RBI by Easton Vidales to make the score 1-0 and prompt the Rams to hold counsel with Aguilera at the pitcher’s mound.

 

After the meeting, Aguilera would give up another hit in the form of a double to Cabrillo’s Nick Ciandro but would then get pinch hitter RJ Perkins to ground out to end the inning leaving Ciandro stranded at second base. The damage had been done though and left-handed relief pitcher Clayton Andrews would pick up where his teammate Krug left off and shut down the Rams hitters by allowing only one hit and striking out the side in the ninth inning.

 

The loss leaves the Rams with a 7-22 record overall and 1-11 in conference play. City College looks to bounce back on Tuesday, April 11 against Mission away.

Rams pitcher Jesse Navarro sprints to first base while Matt Schivo slides into second. Photo by Otto Pippenger, April 20 2017, Pacifica.
Rams pitcher Jesse Navarro sprints to first base while Matt Schivo slides into second. Photo by Otto Pippenger, April 20 2017, Pacifica.
Daniel Walsh throws warmup pitches before the game agaisnt West Valley while team mate stretches.  Photo by Otto Pippenger, April 20 2017, Pacifica.
Daniel Walsh throws warmup pitches before the game agaisnt West Valley while team mate stretches.
Photo by Otto Pippenger, April 20 2017, Pacifica.