Prep baseball championship: Dramatic game between Central and Clovis East in Division II
Clovis East High won its first Central Section baseball championship with a dramatic finish Friday night at Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
After two rallies from Central, the Timberwolves came out on top when Alex Righetti drew a walk-off, bases-loaded walk for a 4-3 victory in the Division II championship in front of about 500 fans.
“It’s been our identity all year,” Clovis East coach Ryan Smith said. “We grind out games and find a way to get it done. It’s a testament to these kids of what they’ve done all year. They just refuse to quit.”
The victory gives Clovis East its first section title in school history, according to section historian Bob Barnett.
Clovis East had swept Central in a three-game series during the Tri-River Athletic Conference season. Those games were decided by three runs or less.
It was tight again in the championship.
Clovis East jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a run-scoring triple by Erik Perez. He later scored on an RBI by Brennan Johnson.
The Grizzlies stormed back in power fashion when Dallan Alles and Skylar Dwiggins hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning.
Clovis East regained the lead when Carson Sandoval led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run.
The Grizzlies, however, didn’t go away. Dwiggins came through once again when he had a run-scoring single to drive in Logan Pontecorvo.
“It definitely ended like what we want it to,” Smith said, who noted 13 of his players are seniors. “Top to bottom, these guys have been unbelievable. The coaching staff has been unreal. The best experience of my career so far. It’s so worth it.”
Division I championship decided
Stockdale defeated Righetti 10-1 in Visalia for its fourth section title in school history.
The Mustangs last won the title in 2018.
