Canyons Wins on Another Last Shot

MISSION VIEJO — David Soto hit a three-run home run with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give College of the Canyons an 8-5 victory over Cuesta in the championship bracket of the Southern California Regional Saturday at Saddleback College.

The Cougars, who have won nine consecutive games, moved to within one victory of a berth in the four-team state championships in Fresno next week.

Canyons will meet Cuesta again today at 11 a.m. at Saddleback College. Should the Cougars lose, a second game will be played to determine the regional champion. (Cuesta defeated Saddleback, 11-2, in a later game Saturday).

With one out in the ninth and the Canyons-Cuesta game tied, Hiram Damwijk doubled to left center for the Cougars. Jesse Daggett received an international walk and Luis Sanchez flew out to deep center.

Soto ended the game by hitting the ball over the left-field fence and a barrier behind it.

“It was the hardest I’ve ever hit one,” Soto said.

On Friday, Damwijk homered in the 12th inning to defeat Saddleback, 9-8.

Cuesta tied Saturday’s game with two runs in the top of the ninth. Jon Storke, Ryan Merkle and Dustin Barnes singled to load the bases and two runs scored on Vinnie Hernandez’s single.

With none out and runners on first and third, Scott Goodman, Cuesta’s leading hitter with a .460 average, hit a sharp grounder to second. Kasey Canale held the runner at third and tagged Hernandez for the first out.

Luke Neel attempted to squeeze home Barnes, but pitcher Brock Benson fielded the bunt and had little trouble throwing the runner out at the plate. A foul out by Ryan Kaplanek ended the inning.

Cuesta jumped on starter Kevin Hyde early. Merkle sent the first pitch of the game down the third-base line for a double and took third on a single by Hernandez, with Hernandez taking second on a throw to third. With two out, Nell singled home both runs.

Cuesta increased its lead to 3-0 in the fourth on a double by Daniel Miranda, a single by Jon Storke and a single by Merkle. After being hit on a toe on his right foot by Storke’s single, Hyde retired 12 of the next 13 batters.

“I felt it the rest of the way,” Hyde said.

Soto singled with one out in the fifth inning, the first hit for the Cougars. Dan Bir singled and Kris Yeaman beat out a grounder to load the bases. Jeremy Seipel singled to left for the first Canyons run. Bir was thrown out at home on a grounder to third but a bases-loaded walk to Canale and an infield single by Damwijk tied the score.

Canyons took the lead in the seventh. Rob Renfeld singled and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Canale. Damwijk singled Renfeld home and took second on a walk to Jesse Daggett. A double by Sanchez gave the Cougars a 5-3 edge.

Benson (5-2) picked up his second victory in as many days.

Hyde pitched 7 2/3 innings and was “a little wild, probably because of the situation.” He issued no walks but hit two batters.