Panthers take D-IV baseball title

Published online on Saturday, May. 30, 2009

EASTON -- Washington High beat Selma 2-1 Friday to win the Central Section Division IV baseball title after three straight trips to the semifinals.

The Panthers capped a 32-3 season and got their 100th victory in four seasons with four-year starters Andrew Rich and Braden Fukuda.

Rich got a bases-loaded strikeout to end the game and win a pitcher's duel against Bears senior Gilbert Ruelas. Staked to a 1-0 lead after No. 8 hitter Matt Hurtado's home run, Ruelas handcuffed the Panthers on five hits and struck out 10.

But in the sixth, Rich reached second on an infield throwing error to start the winning rally.

Marc Mendoza singled him to third and stole second on a fake bunt. Ruelas got a strikeout, but sophomore Yafett Thomas drove in Rich with a single and, after a hit batter loaded the bases, sophomore catcher John Hobbs delivered a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to score Mendoza.

"We struggled against Ruelas all day," said Washington coach Mike Curran. "We had to attack the game -- that's been a big staple of this program."

In the seventh, sharp one-out singles by James Berry and Ruelas (Selma's first hits since the homer) put runners at first and third. Rich got a strikeout on a slider, then hit Hurtado (who walked in his other at-bat) to load the bases before ending the game on a full-count swinging strikeout.

"I've been in pressure situations before," said Rich, who finished his career with a 37-6 record and, at 179 hits, four shy of tying the section record. "We played over 150 games, and our only goal was to win Valley. To get it on win No. 100 is pretty special."

Curran said, "This is the stuff you dream about since you were 5 years old. To see 20 guys' smiles across their faces -- that's what it's all about."

The game was highlighted by outstanding defensive plays from both sides. In the third, Panthers shortstop Adam McCurley (who was 3 for 3 with two stolen bases) ranged deep into the hole and made a rocket throw to get an out just ahead of Hurtado's homer.

And leading off the fifth, Selma left fielder Michael Ruiz robbed Hobbs of extra bases with a diving, back-to-the-infield catch.

Washington won its fourth section title, first since 1999. Selma, which eliminated the Panthers two years ago on its way to the Division III title, finished 18-12.