Baseball teams battling in the Foothill Conference

It looks like there will be a race to the finish in the Foothill Conference with three baseball teams battling for the runner-up spot, assuming Chaffey (23-9, 14-3) stays on top.

Three teams have advanced to the playoffs in some years past but that probably won’t happen this year.
Next up for the Wolverines (22-16, 12-6) is a three-game series against Rio Hondo (20-15-1, 13-4-1). The Roadrunners will come to Arrowhead Credit Union Park Thursday for a 2:30 p.m. contest. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at noon in Whittier.

SBVC finishes its schedule the following week against Cerro Coso. Meanwhile Rio Hondo closes out the season with Desert (21-16, 13-5) which faces Chaffey (24-9, 15-3) this week.

Rio Hondo also has to finish a seven-inning game with Mt. San Jacinto that was called after five because of darkness.

SBVC coach Bill Mierzwik said he is most concerned about Desert, not because he is overlooking Rio Hondo but because he has no control over what that team does while it has a head-to-head with Rio.

“We’re done with them (Desert) and they have the tiebreaker over us because they took two of three from us,” he said. “We at least control our own destiny when it comes to Rio Hondo.”

Mierzwik, in his 18th year, also said his current team has been one of the most enjoyable ones he has coached.
He says being in contention is an admirable feat because the teams does not have a home field and has had to play its “home” games at five different venues.

“These guys just deal with it,” he said. “There hasn’t been one complaint. They just go out and play. If it was our team from a few years ago they would do nothing but complain.”

Mierzwik adds the character of the team was evident early when a handful of players saved a women in the neighborhood from a pitbull attack before a practice in February.

“We have had a lot of close games and we haven’t had a break,” he said. “You would think we’re due some positive kharma our way. We’re still waiting.”