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The Humboldt Eagles 19Us defeated Napa Valley 6-2 at the American Legion Area Tournament in Fairfield on Saturday, but it wasn’t quite enough to see them advance to the semifinals.
After dropping their opening two games in pool play, including a heartbreaking 12-11 loss to Yolo Post 77 on Friday, the Eagles closed out tournament play 1-2 and saw their season come to an end.
Despite the disappointment of the Area Tournament, however, it was another memorable season for the American Legion club, which featured a lineup of local high school all-stars from five different H-DNL schools, as well as some local college players.
“Unfortunately the season has come to an end as we lost out on the tiebreaker by five runs scored against us,” head coach Matt Tomlin said on Facebook. “It was a great summer with a great group of young men.”
Ethan Thomas got the win on the mound on Saturday, giving up just two runs in 5.1 innings and striking out four.
Matt Letter threw 1.2 scoreless innings for the save and struck out one.
Rogan Bode led the way at the plate and finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs, while Willie Bommelyn and Caden Vance each was 2-for-4, with the latter driving in two runs.
Categories: American Legion, baseball, Humboldt Eagles
Lost out on runs… hmm, if the coaching decision was to not mess up a groove, then all the bench clearing not necessary in game 2 up by how many runs… wouod have never occured… hindsight does not apply… it was just a poor decision that cost game 2…
…Just critiquing facts of game 2 with the run differential after game 3…
Personally, I’d take responsibility for losing game 2 as a coach, but that is on me…
In a tourney where pool play is used or top 2 outta 3 advance, etc… the first hurdle is to advance… we all know baseball is whacky with runs scored in bunches, even in the last inning…
…secure the advancement, win game 2 by the late margin 9-3 by not subbing… secure advancing to next round first, then get other players on the field…
Win Game 2, Use Game 3 for shuffling the roster with subbing, don’t jeopardize advancing by losing Game 2.
If this were a best of 5 or best of 7, more likely that Game 2 result is just a minor bump in the road…
Great coaches also have decisions that backfire, it happens… but ya gotta know your place to secure advancement to next round… heartbreaking really for the players…