The Cañada College Colts defeated De Anza College baseball 11-6, ending the Mountain Lions’ season on April 24 at home.
“We started off hot in the beginning,” said infielder Diego Cusorli, 20, administration of justice major (De Anza No. 32). “Little by little, they (Cañada) started coming back.”
Both teams each scored 2 points in the first inning, with a home run from infielder Lawson Darthard, 19, business major (De Anza No. 40) followed by a run in from infielder Drew Paxton, 20, business administration major (De Anza No. 2).
In the next inning, Paxton hit a single to run in catcher Jordan Maske, 20, communication major (De Anza No. 23), at the plate. Darthard took a sacrifice hit to right field, giving Maske and the team another run.
In the fifth inning, utility Cole Leschak (Cañada No. 18) ran in utility Justin Gladfelter (Cañada No. 1). Infielder Joe Dyer, 20, business major (De Anza No. 16), hit a double, scoring Darthard again to give De Anza a 4-3 lead.
In the sixth inning, Cañada scored an unearned run by center field. Darthard hit a single for De Anza, bringing in outfielder Xavier Pateli, 21, liberal arts major (De Anza No. 7).
“In the last couple of innings, we gave up some crucial runs,” Darthard said in reference to the last three innings, where Cañada scored seven unanswered runs, closing the game.
Cañada scored twice in the seventh inning, tying the game 6-6. Outfielder Isiah Herrera (Cañada No. 6) followed up with a three-run home run in the eighth inning.
The Cañada dugout got rowdy while the home crowd fell silent.
Maske applauded his team’s efforts despite the loss, commending its grittiness in closing games.
“That’s one thing about this program; we’re going to fight,” Maske said.
Herrera scored more points in the ninth inning, hitting a single, batting in two runs to close the game out 11-6.
“I’m very proud of the work everybody put in,” designated hitter Keanu Hennings, 20, kinesiology major (De Anza No. 17), said. “We came a long way and did things people thought we couldn’t do.”
The game marked a 1-3 season record against Cañada and a 7-13 conference record, which De Anza baseball head coach Don Watkins credited in his season-closing interview.
“Today hurt, but going forward, we accomplished about 90% of our goals going into the season,” Watkins said.
Watkins also said this year’s team gave De Anza baseball its best conference performance in seven years.
De Anza did not qualify for conference playoff games, finishing fifth in division standings, where the top three teams of each division proceeded.
Over the season’s 40 games, the Mountain Lions scored 220 runs and gave up 409 runs, garnering a 0.360 on-base percentage, 16 home runs and a .260 batting average, placing it No. 75 out of 88 California Community College teams.
Within its 10-30 overall record, the team performed better away than at home, with a 6-13 away record compared to its 4-17 home record. It stole 68 bases in 80 attempts.
Watkins said he was proud of his team and the steps they made toward an improved season from last year, hoping the next recruitment class will take the team further.
“We planted the seeds,” Watkins said. “Now the shade will come.”
