Redwood Christian Advances to NCS DIV Championship After 12-Inning Thriller

Submitted by Alyssa Kiefer in RCS Athletics, RCS Highlights on May 31, 2018

RCS Junior Joe Carlton, the fourth pitcher of the night, earns the win for the Eagles Wednesday night at San Leandro Ballpark.  The Eagles met up with the St. Mary’s Panthers and duked it out in a pitcher’s duel for 12 innings until Sophomore Trey Gallarzan drilled a ball down the left field line to score Alex Williams.

Three senior pitchers battled before Carlton took the mound.  Christian Guzman was the Eagle’s starting pitcher, going 4 innings and giving up 1 run.  Luke Luebker followed for three innings with no runs scored and 5 strikeouts. Alex Williams pitched a scoreless 4 innings after he started the 7th, recording 6 strikeouts.  Joe Carlton pitched to 4 batters in the 12th, with 1 walk, 2 ground outs, and a strikeout.

St. Mary’s scored 1 run in the first inning on a fielder’s choice with a runner at third base and 1 out. Redwood tied the game in the bottom of the 7th with a lead-off hit by Cruz Costa and a steal of 2nd base by Costa.  A sacrifice bunt by Guzman and a wild pitch in the bottom of the 7th scored the tying run.

The game was scoreless for the next 4 innings.  Williams led off the bottom of the 12th with a base hit.  Costa followed with a sacrifice bunt, placing Williams in scoring position.  Finally, with two outs and two strikes Trey Gallarzan doubled down the line in left field to drive Williams home.

Redwood ended the game with 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 errors.  St. Mary’s scored 1 run on 8 hits and 3 errors.

The Eagles advance to the NCS D4 championship which will be hosted at Diablo Valley College in Concord at 12 pm on Saturday, June 2.