Guardino hits first homer, extends hit streak to 18 games in 4-2 setback

Things can change in a hurry on the baseball diamond. Just ask the SBCC Vaqueros.

The Vaqueros were cruising along with a 1-0 lead and a no-hitter for 6 2/3 innings on Monday at Pershing Park. Then second baseman Zach Orn made an error on a ground ball and Kalub Ramirez homered to left field to give Hancock a 2-1 lead.

The Bulldogs (11-9, 6-4 WSC North) added two more in the eighth on an RBI single by Jeff Ray and an outfield throwing error that allowed Travis Welker to score from third. Hancock won the game 4-2 and has won four in a row after dropping three straight to first-place Cuesta. The Vaqueros (12-8, 4-3) are 3-3 in their last six games.

Ryan Guardino, the Vaqueros' leadoff hitter from San Marcos High, had a day with a double in the first and the first homer of his two-year career -- a solo shot leading off the eighth. He extended his hitting streak to 18 in a row and has a hit in every game he's played this year. He stole third in the first and scored on Alonzo Rubalcaba's sacrifice fly to right. Guardino is batting .415 and he's No. 6 in the state with 14 steals in 15 tries.

"Ryan shows up every game with the bat," said SBCC coach Jeff Walker. "The inability of the bottom of our lineup to get on base really costs us when the lineup turns over. What are you going to do? Our second baseman calls in sick today and we have a two-out error that leads to a two-run bomb in the seventh."

Toby Spach, a converted catcher who's heading to USC in the fall, started on the mound for the Vaqueros. He went four solid innings, giving up no hits and striking out six. He was clocked at 92 mph in the first inning.

Mason Metcalfe relieved in the fifth and pitched the last five innings. He gave up four runs and none were earned due to five Vaquero errors. All four infielders made an error in the last five innings.

"It's the first time we've gotten beat late this year in innings 7, 8 and 9," said SBCC coach Jeff Walker. "I'm glad we got that one out of the way and in our scrapbook for the season. The difference was catching and throwing the baseball. And five of our seven strikeouts occurred in the last three innings.

"I'm really disappointed in our DH situation in our 6-hole. No one really wants to step up or has come up big in key situations. I'm not really sure what the answer is for that."

Walker has tried six players in the designated hitter role in the last 11 games and they've gone a combined 4-36 (.111).

"Hancock is playing very well and that's a very confident club. They were down the whole game and getting no-hit but you wouldn't know that."

The Vaqueros loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth on a single by Rubalcaba, a double down the left-field line by Kyle Froemke and an intentional walk to Jarred Greene. Reliever Matt Gonzales struck out pinch-hitter Zach Jensen on a 1-2 pitch.

Anthony Garcia pitched the first five innings for Hancock, allowing just one run on three hits. Gonzales went the last four, giving up one run on five hits with five strikeouts.

"We pitched well today," Walker added. "It was the first time Mason has had a hiccup late, usually it comes early. Toby looked the best he's looked all year and it was exciting to see."

The Vaqueros and Hancock will continue their three-game series on Thursday at Hancock (2:30 p.m.) and Saturday back at Pershing Park at 1 p.m.


Toby Spach, a 6-2 sophomore from Carpinteria High who's going to USC
in the fall, had his longest outing of the year. He struck out five of the first
seven batters and didn't allow a run or hit in the first four innings. (Photo
by Ken Sciallo/Sevilla Photography)