COLUSA, CA (MPG) – In speaking about the postseason, 49ers tight end George Kittle said, “Once you get to the playoffs, anything can happen,” which is a fitting description of the RedHawks’ experience last week as they edged No. 7 Paradise 2-1 before seeing their season come to an end in a heartbreaking 3-4 loss to No. 3 West Valley.
Hosting the Bobcats, the fourth place team in the Sacramento Valley League, on May 14, No. 2 Colusa put the first run of the game on the board in the bottom of the first when Elli Santana stole home.
Yet, that was all the RedHawks could muster against Paradise’s pitcher Nylah Baker until the fifth inning when they staged a two out rally.
A single by catcher Abril Guzman created the opportunity and was followed by a triple off the bat of Ava Garcia for what ultimately proved to be the game winner.
And while Baker had an impressive performance in the circle minimizing the threat, Garcia was exceptional for Colusa, going the distance where she struck out 18, while giving up just a single hit, three walks and no earned runs.
It was the junior pitcher’s best strikeout performance of the season and just what her team needed on a day where it couldn’t get the bats going.
In addition to Garcia’s triple, Guzman went 3 for 3 with a double, while Elle Faris and Braelyn Santana recorded the only other hits.
However two days later on May 16, the RedHawks found themselves in different circumstances, battling the visiting Eagles in an extra-inning contest where the runs were all unearned and the two pitchers fanned a combined 23 batters.
Scoreless until the fifth, West Valley drew first blood when a two-out single to right field was misplayed allowing the batter to race around the bases and score.
In the sixth, with Garcia keeping Colusa within one, the RedHawks capitalized on an error to tie the score then made the Eagles pay for a second mistake after Addison Lay singled to drive in two more runs.
However, West Valley came roaring back to tie in the top of the seventh after an error and a stolen base put two runners in scoring position both of which came in to score on a single.
While the RedHawks had a chance to win it in a walk-off, they left two runners on base in the bottom of the frame keeping the score 3-3.
Now in extras, another Colusa miscue put an Eagles’ base runner at second, who was then driven in by the ensuing batter.
Unfortunately for the RedHawks they again left a runner at third in the home half of the eighth and as a result saw their season come to an end.
Garcia had another strong outing as despite surrendering 10 hits, she did not give up an earned run and struck out a dozen.
Although it was a disappointing conclusion for Colusa (23-6) who was looking to make a return to the championship game for the first time since 2017, it’s a safe bet that the RedHawks will be a contender next year given that they lose just two seniors and have a solid core of returners.