Baseball: Sandler survives scare to force extra innings

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Simi Valley’s Drew Sandler struck out Ryan Endres looking with the winning run less than 90 feet away to keep the score tied, 1-1, and force extra innings in the Southern Section-Toyota Division I championship showdown with Long Beach Wilson on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

After the 2004 Division II champions went down in four batters in the top of the seventh, Wilson led off the bottom of the inning with a single to left field by Cody Harris. It was Harris’ second hit of the night.

Harris stole second base and was replaced by pinch-runner Phillip Visico, who moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Chris Hubbard. Visico was left there after Alec Rosales grounded to second and Endres struck out.

Considering the pressure he was under from the screaming fans, Sandler’s inning-ending strikeout was, arguably, the biggest single play of the year for the Pioneers.

Harris’ lead-off hit was the first hit for either team since the third inning.

-- Austin Knoblauch