Warriors Beat Warriors in Extra-Inning Loss

By Brandon Petersen

It was a frustrating afternoon at the Great Park Thursday, where La Sierra thoroughly outplayed the Westcliff baseball team in a 12-7 finish. 

The Warriors committed another four errors, and can once again blame their own mistakes for a loss. 

"We beat ourselves," Westcliff skipper Dave Shermet said. "We didn't capitalize on offense when we had runners in scoring position. On defense, we're not making the plays. You can't give any team four or five outs an inning."

Westcliff had an identical pair of 40-foot throws to third sail, leading to a flock of Eagles soaring around the bases in chunks. 

La Sierra scored a pair in the first, three in the sixth and five in the tenth. 

"We can't get out of our own way," Shermet said. "And they're routine plays we're not making. That's the frustrating part, we're beating ourselves."

Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles (6-12 Cal Pac, 12-21 overall) played lockdown defense, squelching potential hit after potential hit all game long.

Shortstop Abel Plascencia did his best Omar Vizquel impression, turning in a blackhole performance where all Westcliff hope was sucked in and rendered obsolete. 

"They made every diving stop," Shermet said. "They made great plays. They don't have a great record, but again, their record belies how good they are. They played fundamental ball. They didn't make any errors. They bunted. They played small-ball. 

"They did all the things we didn't do."

The Warriors have officially clinched a postseason spot in the Cal Pac playoffs, a program-first. 

But the last thing they want to do is limp in.

Right now, Westcliff holds the No. 2 seed. A potential slide could leave them as far back as No. 5 when the tournament begins. Two games remain against La Sierra, then Ben U comes calling. Currently the Redhawks are 16-1 in league play. 

Thursday at the ballpark, the Warriors lacked a sense of urgency that should be growing as the season nears its end. 

"I don't think our effort is there," Shermet said. "We come out and I don't know that we're ready to play. Doesn't necessarily look like we've got a lot of excitement in the dugout. 

"They came out and did what we normally do. We fell behind, retook the lead, then they took it right back. It just doesn't seem like there's a lot of urgency."

The Warriors (12-4 Cal Pac, 20-13 overall) return to the Great Park Friday to wrap the series with the Golden Eagles.

Game 1 starts at 11 a.m. Game 2 is slated for 2:30 p.m.

"They better find it tomorrow," Shermet said. "There's no two ways about it, we have five regular season games left. We have to win two games tomorrow. That's it. 

"You gotta win the first one before you can win the second one. We need clutch hits. We need to capitalize on our opportunities. Teams are going to beat us if we don't."