The Broncs Seth Stockwell shows the ball to the umpire in hopes of recording an out at third base in the CIF Playoff game played against Foothill. Submitted photo
Story by Ray Conner
The Broncs baseball squad finished up the year with a loss in the CIF Playoffs. Foothill came to town and was able to win the game with six runs over the last two innings. This would overcome a 2-0 cushion the Broncs held for the first five innings of the contest.
The two teams were locked in a pitcher’s duel, with Kern Valley holding the edge at 2-0. They began the scoring in the bottom of the second. Jordan Mead led off the inning with a triple. Carson Strange plated him with an RBI groundout. They added their second run in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and Seth Stockwell on first after an fielder’s choice, a pass ball and an error allowed him to score the second run for the Broncs.
Things fell apart in the top of the sixth. The Trojans started their rally with a hit batsman. A single and a walk loaded the bases. On a three and two pitch, the Foothill batter connected on the next pitch to clear the fence for a grand slam home run. This monster blast gave the Trojans the 4-2.
The Broncs got a runner on in the bottom of the fifth, but was picked off on a steal attempt. Foothill added to their lead in the seventh as they pushed a pair of runs home. With the score sitting at 6-2, Kern valley would try to make magic happen in their last at bats.
It was not to be as they loaded the bases, but a double play ended the threat. The last batter went down on strikes and the curtain closed on the Kern Valley season.
The Broncs managed just two hits in the game. The Mead triple and Chris Lopez led off the fifth with a single. Strange recorded the lone RBI for Kern Valley.
S. Stockwell (10-2) was saddled with the loss as he went five and one-third innings. He gave up five hits and four earned runs. He would walk one and strike out six Trojans. Aiden Madden came on in relief and went the final one and two-thirds. He allowed a pair of runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out one batter.
The Broncs record on the year was 18-6 and a second place finish in the HDL.
