Mustangs escape RVC upset bid to hold league lead

St. Vincent relief pitcher Jack Romano shut down a dangerous threat in the final inning by visiting Rincon Valley Christian, and the Mustangs held on to record a 4-2 win to stay in the North Central League II baseball hunt.

Romano came in with the potential tying runners aboard at first and second base, and retired the final two Eagle hitters on strikes to pick up the clutch save.

Mustang starter Dominic Pedersen worked into the final frame, but was lifted after a single by Aaron Lim and a walk. Pedersen pitched a strong game until his exit, striking out six and walking only three batters.

Both Eagle runs came in the first inning, and the junior right hander recorded his fourth win of the season. It was the ninth win in the last 10 games for St. Vincent.

St. Vincent trailed until the bottom of the third inning when the Mustangs pushed across three runs. Third baseman Liam Galten drove in a pair of runs in the inning when he smashed a single down the third base line with the bases loaded. The third runner was called out at the plate on a strong relay by Rincon Valley.

Galten went on to score the eventual winning run when an attempted pick-off at second base rolled into short enter field, allowing the Mustang third baseman to streak all the way home.

St. Vincent added an insurance run after a long double by first baseman Trevor Bovaird and a couple of Eagle errors. The blast by Bovaird bounced high off the extended fence in center field and almost left the park.

The briskly played game was finished in a little over an hour and a half as St. Vincent improved to 6-0 in NCL II play, and the Mustangs remain tied with Sonoma Academy for the league lead. Sonoma ripped Technology 19-3.

Rincon Valley was limited to only four hits. Two base hits came off the bat of junior Nick Giuseponi, including a run-scoring double over the head of left fielder David Sammon in the first inning.

Giuseponi was also denied another RBI in the third inning when a pinch runner for the Eagles failed to tag up in time to score on a fly ball to Mustang center fielder Reilly Tobin.

Bradley Leach led the seven hit attack by the Mustangs with a pair of singles, while Galten got St. Vincent back in it with his double that rolled to the left-field fence.

Shortstop Nick Vollert had a good day in the field with a leaping catch of a line drive in the fifth inning. In the next frame by fielding a ground ball and tagging the bag before a strong throw to first base.

The Eagles hurt their own cause in the second inning when one of their batters was detected batting out of order. An ensuing base hit was wiped off the books, and the automatic out was credited to first baseman Trevor Bovaird.

St. Vincent improved to 13-4-1 for the season. Rincon fell to 4-3 in league and 5-5 overall.