IRVINE, CA — Held up by stolen bases and sacrifice flies, the Riptide came out victorious with a 7-2 win against the San Diego Bombers at the OC Great Park.
Riptide centerfielder Trajan Rogowski put pressure on the Bombers early with a leadoff single followed by two consecutive steals.
In the bottom of the third, he seized the chance to steal second and third, claiming four steals within the first three innings.
Rogowski is quickly closing in on Tomas Cernius’ league-leading six stolen bases this season.
“I know I have speed. The pitchers were long to the plate today,” said Trajan Rogowski. “Just being able to get a good jump – I know my speed will work.”
However, despite pressuring the basepaths, Rogowski and the Riptide failed to score early.
In the bottom of the fourth, catcher Noah Neufeld led off with a hit by pitch. Brad Beaudreau then reached on an error Dennis Fitzpatrick walked.. The Riptide then capitalized, with sacrifice flies from both Tomas Cernius and Landry Stamps which brought Neufeld and Beaudreau home.
“They were throwing pitches in the zone and we were handling it. I want to go attack,” said Cernius. “ I’m trusting my plan, my bat, trusting everything that I have.”
The Riptide held the Bombers at bay until the top of the seventh, when Jackson Summers’ sacrifice fly allowed Jeremy Jones to score their first run.
Beaudreau responded in the bottom of seventh off an RBI single from Cernius, who then scored after Hunter Harrington singled.
In the top of the eighth, the Bombers plated their second run. After a leadoff triple, the Bombers skied a fly ball to Rogowski in center. Rogowski caught the ball and launched a perfect throw to home, yet the ball got away.
Harrington started the bottom of the eighth strong with a triple, quickly running home due to a sac fly by Rogowski.
OCR then closed out the ninth without giving up any further damage, ultimately winning 7-2.
The Riptide, now 5-1, will travel to Santa Barbara to play the Foresters at Santa Barbara High School tomorrow afternoon.
First pitch set for 4:30.
Contributed by: Nick Wire, Jake Zamora, Kenji Ito
