Dons Roll to Title on Banner Day

FRESNO —  When Rancho Santiago’s baseball team packed for the State tournament in Fresno, the Dons brought everything needed to win the title, including a banner that spent the season hanging inconspicuously behind the right-field fence.

The yellow banner with red lettering says “Ryan Lemmon 1975-1994.”

Lemmon, who would have been a sophomore outfielder this season, died in a car accident last September.

The banner was in the Dons’ dugout for three days in Fresno and became the center of attention as the Dons beat Cerritos, 12-2, Monday to win their second State title in three seasons.

Before the game, it was placed on the ground near the foul line during a moment of silence for Lemmon. After the final out, the players held it high as they celebrated near the mound. It was also displayed proudly and prominently as everyone gathered for photos afterward.

“Lem was a great guy,” said right-fielder Toby Sanchez, who had four hits, including a mammoth home run. “It was sad when he went. Right away, we were forced to come together. His dad was in the dugout today and it just meant so much.”

The victory ended a trying season for the Rancho Santiago players and Coach Don Sneddon. The team also had to overcome problems on the field.

Jaime Estrada, the starting catcher, broke his ankle four days before the State tournament. David Schueller filled in for him.

The Dons also were without starting pitcher Brian Martineau for a month toward the end of the season because of a broken hand. He returned for the playoffs and had a victory and three saves in four appearances.

The Dons started 2-4 in the Orange Empire Conference but came back to win the title. Rancho Santiago closed out the season with 15 consecutive victories, including eight in a row in the playoffs.

“It was a very fulfilling team because they overcame so much,” Sneddon said. “We just got hot at the right time and we left little doubt who is the best team in the state.”

Sanchez, who had a key three-run triple in the 12-4 victory over Cerritos on Sunday, capped a four-run sixth with his fifth home run. Sanchez, who has signed to play at Arizona State, stood and watched as the ball landed well beyond the left-field fence. The ball was found in the front yard of a house about half a block past the fence.

Rancho Santiago had gotten back-to-back home runs by Tony Zuniga (his second) and Kyle Evans (his 13th) in the fifth as the Dons scored three runs to take a 6-1 lead.

Zuniga, a freshman shortstop, also had a single and a double Monday and was eight for 13, scored five runs and drove in five in the three-day tournament.

“I feel great,” he said. “This is what we have been working hard for all season. This is the best feeling.”

Two pitches after Zuniga’s homer, Evans went with an outside pitch and drove it over the left-center field fence.

“This is awesome,” Evans said. “I can’t even explain how good I feel.”

Ryan Fullerton and David Mallas each added two hits for the Dons. Fullerton scored three runs and Mallas had a two-run single that broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth.

Rancho Santiago (42-9) also got strong pitching Monday. Matt Montgomery, a freshman right-hander, gave up five hits and two runs in the first six-plus innings to get the victory. He improved to 4-0, including 2-0 in the playoffs. He was one of the pitchers forced into action while Martineau was healing.

Montgomery walked the first two batters in the seventh and was replaced by Martineau who gave up one hit in the final three innings for his fifth save.

“I’m sad, I’m happy,” Sanchez said. “I just wish Lem was here.”

Tournament notes

The State title was the second for Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon, who has lost three other times on the final day. “Let’s see, I was 1-6 on Memorial Day before today,” Sneddon said. “I used to hate this day. We were always a pretty good team except on this day.”

Early in the game, the Dons got some help from former Coach Jim Reach, the head coach from 1975 to 1981. In the third inning, Cerritos appeared to take a 2-1 lead but Reach, who was in the stands, noticed that the Cerritos runner had missed third and informed the Rancho Santiago bench. The play was appealed and the runner was called out.

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