SAN JOSE — They stored ready and ready for some offense to indicate up. That’s the way in which it’s been this season within the pitching-dominated West Catholic Athletic League.
Lastly the massive hit arrived for Valley Christian within the backside of the fourth when Logan Mull ripped a bases-loaded double to right-center that knocked in all three runners.
Instantly the Warriors had a lead and had been in a position to breathe simpler.
They added two extra within the sixth to defeat St. Ignatius 5-1 and pull again right into a tie for third place with the Wildcats, two video games behind first-place Serra.
“I was just trying to hit the ball the other way,” Mull mentioned. “I was determined. I really wanted to get our team ahead because we were down one. I just wanted to put some runs on the board.”
Valley Christian’s Logan Mull rounds 2nd base as he scores on a triple by Jordan Ortiz within the sixth inning towards St. Ignatius, Saturday, Might 3, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
Runs had been laborious to return by. The day earlier than, Valley took a 1-0 lead into the underside of the seventh, solely to see SI tie it after which win it with a run within the eighth. Valley, St. Ignatius and St. Francis, the three groups chasing Serra, together with fifth-place Bellarmine, all have workforce ERAs nicely beneath 2.00, within the 1.50 vary.
“Everyone has more pitching,” Valley Christian coach John Diatte mentioned. “Put the right guy in, get the out you need, and it just shrinks your ability to score runs. And then having to play in different environments. Playing in big fields with the wind blowing in, having to go up to the City with the wind blowing in. It’s just not conducive for hitting.”
Up 3-1, Mull led off the sixth with a single and scored on Jordan Ortiz’s double. Nathan Choi’s double plated Ortiz.
“Hitting is so contagious,” Diatte mentioned. “And the confidence that comes with it.”
Valley Christian’s Jordan Ortiz acknowledges Nathan Choi who knocked him in for a run within the sixth inning towards St. Ignatius, Saturday, Might 3, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
After a scoreless first three innings, St. Ignatius took the lead with a run within the high of the fourth on an error, and had the bases loaded with two out.
Diatte went to his bullpen and introduced in left-hander Christopher Buck to pitch to SI standout Archer Horn, in a lefty vs. lefty matchup. Horn went into the sport hitting .347 with six house runs. Buck bought a strikeout to finish the inning and went the remainder of the way in which, retiring all 10 batters he confronted with 5 strikeouts.
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“I feel my stuff is more effective on lefties, more deceptive,” Buck mentioned. “I like my slider, it rides away and they tend to swing at it. Also I’m very confident with my curveball.”
Spencer Guido pitched the primary three innings for St. Ignatius and shut down the Warriors, permitting just one hit. However in three innings towards the SI bullpen Valley scored 5 runs on seven hits.
Quentin Marsh doubled, singled and walked in three at-bats for Valley Christian (19-5-1, 8-4), which finally ends up WCAL regular-season play with two video games towards Sacred Coronary heart Cathedral. St. Ignatius (14-8-2, 8-4) has two video games remaining with St. Francis.
Valley Christian pitcher Christopher Buck enjoys the ultimate out in a 5-1 victory over St. Ignatius, Saturday, Might 3, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
Valley Christian’s Jordan Ortiz (5) returns to the dugout after scoring on a Nathan Choi hit within the sixth inning towards St. Ignatius, Saturday, Might 3, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
St. Ignatius proper fielder DJ Delaney was unable to catch an RBI double hit by Valley Christian’s Jordan Ortiz within the sixth inning, Saturday, Might 3, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
Valley Christian’s Logan Mull scores on a Jordan Ortiz double within the sixth inning beating the tag by St. Ignatius catcher AJ Wineinger, Saturday, Might 3, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
