A controversial end to a roller coaster ride of a season for the De Anza College baseball team who fell to Skyline College 3-1 in a single elimination game on Tuesday, April 28.

Pitcher Alex Martinez started the game hot, throwing a high 80s low 90s.

Skyline got on board early in the third inning, making it 1-0. Freshmen Joey Shimono scored in the fourth inning tying the game 1-1 with a double from Cris Castillo.

A double by Castillo gave life to the ball game and encouraged the Dons to have hope. The feeling of possibly moving on to play a three game series against Delta College in the next round seemed within arms reach.

The score remained tied through the next three innings as left-handed pitcher Alex Zarate stepped in to relieve Martinez in the bottom of the sixth.

Zarate gave up two runs and Skyline took the lead 3-1, crushing the spirits of the Dons as they saw their opportunity to advance slowly crumble.

Determined to get back in the game, first baseman Justin Edgar led off the eighth inning with a base hit, which allowed him to get on base. He then tried to steal second, but was thrown out.

Umpires raised speculation on a potential rules violation by De Anza, debating whether pitcher Zarate should have been allowed to hit when the Dons moved designated hitter Martinez to third base replacing Tyler Walters.

“We’ve been doing this all year,” head coach Erick Raich said. “I don’t know why it was such a big deal now.”

After a 45-minute delay, the umpires came to the conclusion that the change was indeed legal and resumed the game in the ninth.

With the tying runs on base, two outs and Isaiah FitzHugh at bat, anything was possible. He saw one pitch and grounded out to third, which ended the game and knocked De Anza out of playoffs.

“We played our hearts out, and I know that the bigger picture was that this was the best season De Anza baseball has had in 12 year’s,” said Zarate.

“I’m sad. I’m very sad. They are a very great group and I wanted to see them go far,” said Raich.