The San Bernardino Valley College baseball team is fighting with three other teams for the second playoff spot out of the Foothill Conference with Chaffey close to wrapping up the top spot.

The Wolverines squared off against Rio Hondo, another team in contention, Thursday at Arrowhead Credit Union Park and the host team was never in this one, losing 15-3. The biggest problem was pitching. The Wolverines walked a total of nine and hit three, one with the bases loaded.

The play of the outfield was also shabby as balls that should have been caught went for doubles or triples, paving the way to big innings.

Veteran coach Bill Mierzwik was ejected in the fourth after Dominick Guerrero, the third SBVC pitcher ran the count to 2-0 with two Roadrunners already on base courtesy of free passes.

His ejection came after assistant Rene Leal was tossed first. It’s a good thing SBVC has seven coaches.

All coaches chirp when they get squeezed and this was no different. It was an important game and the team was off to a bad start. The umpire definitely had rabbit ears. Mierzwik is about as mild-mannered as they come and he wasn’t saying anything, just trying to get the attention of his catcher. Umpire Barry Sosa was looking for trouble. His ejection of Leal was also quick.

So Mierzwik kicked back in the press box and took in the debacle from there. Cell phones come in handy when one has been ejected.

The coach said it is only the second time in 18 years he has been tossed. The first came many years ago in a game against College of the Desert when he was tossed, along with his pitcher, for supposedly throwing at a hitter in a 5-3 game. So he doesn’t have a track record of bad behavior.

SBVC now faces the formidable task of having to win a doubleheader on the road to have any chance of making the playoffs for the first time in three years.

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