Garlic City Bandits win tripleheader in one day, but tire in
title game
DAVIS – The Garlic City Bandits entered the championship game last Sunday having run the table – including a triple-header sweep the day before. There did not seem to be enough left in their tank though, as the Bandits were defeated by the Arsenal, out of Los Gatos, by a score of 13-0.
“This game really doesn’t reflect the way we played all weekend,” Coach C.J. Goularte said. “In this game, we made a couple crucial errors and those kids can flat hit the ball. As far as the rest of the weekend went, the Bandits played superbly.”
In the first game of the triple-header, the Bandits defeated the Woodland Dawgs by a score of 6-5. Spencer Belville led the offense with a 3-for-3 day, including two runs scored and two runs-batted-in. But it was Brandon Briones who proved to be the man of the weekend – going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and stellar play in leftfield.
The Bandits held a 6-3 lead heading into the sixth inning when Woodland put together a rally. With two runs already across, Cole Campbell was called on – inheriting the potential tying run at third base and only one out. Campbell induced two pop-ups to get the save and secure a Bandit win.
Game-two on the day saw a less dramatic and subtle victory as the Bandits defeated the Solano Stingrays, 5-2. Jon Carin pitched four shutout innings – allowing only two hits and striking out three. The Bandits scored early as they manufactured a run like big leaguers. Leadoff man Ryan Muir led off with a base knock followed by a Brodie Christman sac bunt and a Ryan Williams RBI single. Carin, Dennis Duran and Alex Davis followed with three straight hits to give the Bandits an early lead. After tacking on a couple more runs later in the game, Duran came on in relief to close out the game and earn the save.
It was the night game that presented the game of the tournament. The nightcap matched the Bandits up with the one team that has eluded them the past year. On the mound for the Bandits was Ryan Williams – who pitched a gem. Williams pitched four shutout innings – allowing only a bloop hit. Williams had an uncharacteristically low strikeout total with just one.
It was the Bandits defense that came through making nine groundball outs through four innings. Offensively, the Bandits got on the board early courtesy of a two-run triple by Williams that scored Muir and Christman. After Carin was beaned, Duran laid down a perfect suicide squeeze that scored courtesy runner Brandon Briones.
“That first inning was big for us,” Coach Goularte said. “We needed to set a tone and get on the board early because we knew those guys would come back.”
A tone was certainly set as the Bandits controlled the first four innings and led 4-0. It was the fifth inning that Goularte was faced with a crucial decision. According to USSSA rules, any pitcher who pitches more than four innings on one day can not come back to pitch the next day. As the bracket turned out, the Bandits were already in the semifinal game win or lose. So Goularte decided to pull Williams – a move that put parents and fans on edge.
“I know that Ryan was shutting them down,” Goularte said. “But we needed him in the finals. It was a decision I didn’t actually make, I let the kids decide if Ryan continued and not pitch tomorrow or pull him, and the kids decided they should save him for the next day.”
Apparently, the Bandits were willing to get after it when they decided to pull Williams. The Arsenal jumped on reliever Cole Campbell and thanks to a couple errors plated five runs to take the lead. The fight was on and the Bandits were up to the challenge.
In the bottom of the fifth, Campbell led off with a walk and Ryan Muir laid down a great bunt. With Campbell stealing on the pitch, he took advantage of an empty third base and was locked in a foot race with the shortstop to third. Fortunately for the Bandits, the ball beat both players and trickled down the left field line and Campbell strolled home to tie the game. That was all the Bandits managed in the fifth, but momentum was on their side, although short-lived.
The Arsenal struck back plating three. It was a scene the Bandits had seen before. A lead they worked hard to erase was gone in the blink of an eye and to an all-too-familiar opponent. This time, however, they were determined.
In the bottom of the last inning, Carin, Duran and Bellville drew crucial walks – sending the winning run to the plate with no out. Alex Davis hit a chopper to short and scored one run – moving the tying to second base. Jeff Stine drew another walk to load the bases. Up came Brandon Briones – who jumped on the second pitch and scorched a ball up the middle. The Arsenal shortstop was able to grab the force out at second – but could not double-up the speedy Briones.
With two outs, the Bandits had the tying run at third and the winning run on first. After a Campbell walk, Ryan Muir strolled to the plate with the game on the line.
“I thought about having him drag bunt for a hit, but in that situation you have to let players be players,” Coach Goularte said.
With one strike on him, Muir hit the next pitch towards the hole between first and second base – drawing the first baseman far off the bag and out of position. The first baseman bobbled the ball and Muir scorched down the line beating it out. In the meantime, the tying run scored and rounding third heading for home from second base was Briones. As the first baseman flipped to the covering pitcher, Briones jetted for home and slid past the catcher to give the Bandits a dramatic 9-8 walk-off victory.
The kids stormed the field and mobbed Briones at the plate as they defeated the one team that always seemed to slip by them.
“That is what baseball is all about,” Goularte said. “Moments like this not only build character but it builds great memories, especially for these kids.”
It was an emotional victory that gave the Bandits a triple-header sweep and 3-0 record going into the semifinals.
In the morning semis, the Bandits faced the River City Wildcats, out of Sacramento, and handled them with a mercy rule, 10-2. For the fourth time in as many games, the Bandits scored in their first at-bat. This time, they did not look back as Brodie Christman was perfect on the day at 2-for-2 with a hit by pitch, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Duran and Stine each had triples, and every starter had at least one hit. Duran came on in the fourth and closed the game down – setting the stage for a Bandit-Arsenal rematch, this time for the right to be state champs.
