Benicia High’s varsity baseball team avenged one of its two losses this season by knocking off host Vacaville last Saturday, 7-5.
Vacaville (10-6) handed the Panthers (13-2) a 10-6 loss in Benicia back on March 22, but Benicia used a six-run third inning to turn the tables on the Bulldogs in Saturday’s rematch.
Benicia had a 7-1 lead but had a hard time closing out the Bulldogs. Vacaville scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to pull within two runs and had the bases loaded with only one out. But Benicia closer Caleb Van Blake struck out Pancho Ivie looking and got Trenon McNeil to ground out to second baseman Drew Saitz to earn his second save of the season.
“Our kids came out really energetic and we barely had enough left in the gas tank to finish it off,” said Benicia manager Jim Bowles.
Two Benicia errors led to an earned run for Vacaville in the first inning, but the Panthers sent 12 batters to the plate in the top of the third and scored six runs to take the lead for good. Fred Williams had a two-run double and Benicia had three singles and two walks with two outs, including RBI singles by Jared Hanson and Nick Cosmides.
Benicia added another run an inning later. Williams led off with his second double of the day and Jason Toumbs drove in pinch-runner Clayton Hutcheson with an RBI single.
Vacaville scored its second run in the bottom of the sixth thanks to two Benicia errors.
Starting pitcher Ryan Galiza picked up the victory for the Panthers, who have won seven straight games since that loss to Vacaville back in March. Dillon Palomino allowed only one hit and one unearned run in three innings of relief.
“We’re playing really well and have done so all year,” Bowles noted. “And I don’t think we’ve even peaked yet. Our pitching and defense have been unbelievable and our offense is starting to get some consistency.”
Benicia plays at Vallejo on Tuesday and hosts the Apaches on Thursday.
Benicia’s baseball program celebrates Alumni Day this Saturday at Fitzgerald Field. The junior varsity game begins at 3 p.m., with a Home Run Derby scheduled for 6 p.m. The varsity alumni game follows at approximately 7:15 p.m.
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