Redlands, Pomona-Pitzer the class of the SCIAC

The University of Redlands and Pomona-Pitzer baseball teams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack so the SCIAC title will come down to those two.

Redlands got brilliant pitching and posted wins of 6-2 and 7-1 over the Sagehens on Saturday. Pitzer was equally dominant in the opener on Friday, winning 9-2. So now all the three-game series are done and its on to round-robin play.

Each team has one game against all the others so it is a chance for the lesser teams to be the spoiler. But don’t count on it. Barring an unforseen upset the title will come down to the last head-to-head battle between the teams on April 24 at Redlands.

The highlight of Saturday’s doubleheader was a monster collision between the Bulldogs’ Nate Carlson and Sagehens catcher James Brunswick with Carlson attempting to score from second on a hit in the third inning of the second game which Redlands was leading 5-0.

Carlson is a big dude – the roster says 6-4. Brunswick is 5-11, a small 5-11 at that. Carlson barreled in and Brunswick went flying, yet made the tag and hung on to the ball for the final out of the inning. Carlsown was ejected for not sliding, which Redlands coach Scott Laverty conceded was the right call.

How many times does the guy making the great defensive play lead off the next inning? Yes most of the time. And Brunswick got a hit and later scored. But that was about the only highlight of the day for the Sagehens.

Both are quality teams. And barring something unexpected, both should make the regional tournament. And both have the potential to make a run. It is ivalry in full bloom and should only get better!

 

 

 

 

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