Baseball walks off Bakersfield in 10 innings to close out the season and Coach Porto's career
Baseball entered the last week of the season with two games remaining in WSC North and a non-conference rain make-up game with Bakersfield that had been postponed since opening week-end.
The Raiders had one last roadtrip to Cuesta to open the week and came home with a 6-1 loss. To close out WSC North play, the Raiders hosted Oxnard the next day defeating the Condors 17-1 to take the season series from Oxnard.
To close out the week, the Raiders hosted Bakersfield in a rain make-up game that had been postponed since the season opening weekend. It also marked the last game of Coach Mario Porto's career.
Prior to the game, Athletics along with the Baseball team held a retirement ceremony which included speakers and gift presentation. Coach Porto's grandchildren were also involved as they threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Among the speakers were former Equipment Manager Tommy Arellano, former Athletic Trainer/Athletic Director Vance Manakas, former assistant coach and current Newbury Park HS Head Coach Curtis Scott, life long friend, teammate, coaching adversary Doni Adams, and former player Casey Gordon. All paid homage to Coach's dedication and respect to the game, staff, all of his athletes, and especially to himself. Bakersfield present Coach with a custom bat along with a signed Bakersfield jersey and bottle of "apple juice". Lastly, standing with tradition, Athletics presented Coach with his retirement rocking chair engraved with "Mario Porto, Baseball Coach/Kin Instructor, Mustachio'd Mentor, 1989-2025 (HC 1990-2025)
At Cuesta, Nate Kaczynski went 2 for 4 with two doubles and was the only Raider with multiple hits.
With a chance to take the season series against Oxnard, the Raiders scored a run in the bottom of the 1st & 3rd innings to take a 2-0 lead going to the 5th. After a scoreless Condor half of the 5th, the Raiders would send 11 batters to the plate and were able to push 6 runs across to break open the game 8-0. The inning was highlighted by Jadon Onaca's and Drew Paez's 2 RBI doubles.
The Condors broke the shut-out scoring a run in the top of the 8th. The Raiders responded with 9 runs of their own to get to 17 runs.
Jadon Onaca was 5 for 6 with 7 RBIs, 2 doubles, a homerun and 3 runs. Gabriel Flores went 2 for 4 with a double and 2 runs scored. Brendon Watkins went 2 for 5 with a double, 2 runs and 2 RBIs.
Bakersfield opened the game scoring first in the top of the 1st. Starting pitcher Valor Castroll kept the Renegade bats quiet while the Raiders would take a 2-1 lead after 3 innings. Bakersfield would score two in 4th and 1 in the 5th to take a 4-2 lead. The Raiders responded with 2 in the bottom of the 5th to tie the game 4-4. The score would stay at 4-4 after 9 and an extra inning was in order.
The first Renegade batter singled and was sacrificed to 2nd. The next batter lined out, 2outs. The Raiders next intentionally walked BC clean up hitter Liam O'Reilly. Raider pitcher Braden Jarvis got the grounder he needed to end the BC threat.
Brendon Watkins singled to left center to open the Raider's 10th. He was promptly bunted over to 2nd. Nate Franco flew out to right giving Watkins time to head to 3rd. Watkins scored on a wild pitch to end the game and season.
The Raiders end the season 9-29 overall and 4-20 in WSC North
