By Stephen Ramirez
@SteveRRamirez on Twitter
WALNUT >> Kevin Smith’s debut as Mt. San Antonio College’s baseball coach didn’t go as planned on Thursday.
Nick Padilla hit a three-run double in the 11th inning and visiting Glendale spoiled Smith’s first game with an 8-4 victory over the Mounties at Mazmanian Field.
The Vaqueros, who won their first game after opening with losses to Oxnard and Cypress, also got two hits each from Jerry Ismerio and Jay Sheeley. Richie Rollice (South Hills High School) Kolby Oriti (Northview) and Carlos Martinez (Nogales) had two hits each for Mt. SAC.
Glendale didn’t waste it’s chance in the 11th. The Vaqueros loaded the bases with one out following to hit batters and a throwing error. Padilla then doubled down the right field line to score all three for a 7-4 lead.
Sheeley followed with an RBI single to make it 8-4.
Mt. SAC, which fell behind 4-0, tied it at 4 in the seventh. Richie Rollice (South Hills), Kolby Oriti and Carlos Martinez (Nogales) had singles before Edgar Cabral (La Puente), Dustin Fraley and Nico Contreras (South Hills) followed with RBI walks to make it 4-3. Boomer Baker then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Cabral and tie it at 4.
Mt. SAC coach Kevin Smith: “It’s a little bit quicker, pitchers throw a little bit harder and the game is a little bit faster (at this level), but baseball is baseball. If you catch and throw and hit the baseball in key situations you win. On the other hand, if you don’t, you’re going to lose. We didn’t do all the things we needed to do to win. I am happy with the effort the guys gave us tonight. They never gave up, worked hard. We’re OK.”