Baseball Season Comes To End With Loss To East LA In Play-In Game

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. – The College of the Canyons baseball season came to end on Tuesday afternoon with a 6-5 loss to East Los Angeles College in a single elimination California Community College Baseball Southern California play-in playoff game.

Despite leading most of the game and outhitting the Huskies 13-9, the Cougars gave up two runs to East LA College in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the opposing team its one and only lead of the game.

With the Cougars leading 5-4 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, Canyons inserted pitcher Ryan Cruz. Cruz could not get the save, as he allowed two runs on four hits and committed a throwing error to put the tying run on third base. The game-winning run came when a Huskie turned in a RBI single to right field with the bases loaded.

The Cougars tried to rally in the top of the ninth after Roberto Ramos hit a single with one out. Dylan Freyre then singled up the middle to move Ramos to second base. The following batter, Chris Devery lined out to center field and the umpire said Ramos left second base too soon and was eventually called out as well.

Canyons collected 13 hits as all of the nine starters posting at least one hit in the game. Left fielder Chris Devery tied a career high with three hits, going 3-for-5 with a run and a double. Second baseman JD Krauskopf was 2-of-3 with two runs scored and first baseman Ramos went 2-of-5.

Canyons took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second to get on the scoreboard when Justin Russell hit a RBI single and Nick Vigo's sacrifice fly allowed two COC runners to cross the plate.

The Huskies answered in the bottom of the third and tied the game up 2-2. The Cougars responded in the top of the fifth on a David Oppenheim sacrifice fly that scored Austin Cole and gave COC a 3-2 lead.

The Cougars extended their lead to 4-2 in the seventh with help from an East LA miscue that allowed Vigo to score.

Starting pitcher Joseph Cloney tossed 7.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Reliever Cruz (6-6) was tabbed with the loss.

Canyons finished the season with a 19-17-1 record.