WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 25) – Junior shortstop
Brett Bobin (Wampum, Pa./Mohawk) notched a walk-off walk in the ninth inning, as the California (PA) baseball team registered a 4-3 win versus Salem in non-conference match at Wild Things Park on Tuesday afternoon.
With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 20-18 overall. Meanwhile, the Tigers fall to 20-24 this season on the year under third-year head coach J.T Heenan.
Senior right fielder
Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) was able to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth after being hit by a pitch in a bases-loaded situation. Two batters later, Bobin tallied the game-winning walk after taking the final two pitches on a 2-2 count to score sophomore pinch hitter
Brian Horoshko (Macungie, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) from third base.
The teams were held scoreless through the opening four innings before Salem ignited to a 3-0 advantage in the fifth. Sophomore left fielder
Ryan Callahan (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) blasted a solo home run down the left-field line in the fifth to cut the Cal deficit to 3-1. After sophomore second baseman
Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) singled to the shortstop and moved classmate third baseman
Nathan Meeks (New Castle, Pa./Union) into scoring position, back-to-back walks trimmed the Salem lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth.
Marra finished the game with a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Callahan went 1-for-3 at the plate, while junior catcher
Jayden Taitano (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) posted a hit and drew a walk.
Freshman starting pitcher
Sam Georgiana (Canonsburg, Pa./Seton LaSalle) was dealt a no-decision despite only allowing one hit and recorded a pair of strikeouts in 4.0 scoreless innings. Sophomore
Aidan Ruiz (Perry Hall, Md./The John Carroll School) collected the win as he shut down the Tiger offense, giving up no hits and striking out four batters in 2.1 innings of relief.
Salem relief pitcher Evan Bell suffered the loss as he yielded two runs (both earned) and walked two batters in 0.1 inning.
The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Wednesday, April 26, as they travel to face Frostburg State in a non-conference bout, starting at 3 p.m.
