By: Jocelyn Cervantes, Editor
After losing to Brea Olinda Saturday afternoon, the Tustin Tillers varsity baseball team were determined to beat the Capistrano Valley Christian Eagles. “We knew we had to come out strong for this game” Anthony Walters stated, while Brennan Black pitched in “We just went back to our fundamentals.” The Tustin Tillers were ready to win.
Monday afternoon, junior Cole Hoskins (#20) walked up to the pitcher’s mound and the game began. Starters for the game included freshman Brian Nguyen (#2, second base), juniors David Bohorquez (#7, catching),Dailin Lee (#14, center field), Blake Akins (#15, first base), Anthony Walters (#18, shortstop), Cole Hoskins (#20, pitcher), and seniors Dustin Durand (#9, right field), Brennan Black (#12, third base), and Dalton Rasmussen (#24, left field). Cole Hoskins skillfully striked out the Eagles in the first six minutes into the game.
Although the Tillers had a strong start they were unsuccessful in getting a run. The first, second and third inning came and went with a score of 0-0. During the fourth inning, Anthony Walters (#18) was first up to bat and walked to first base. Next at bat, Blake Akins (#15) struck out. However, Anthony Walters ran to second base. Cole Hoskins (#20) batted next, hitting a single. Tension and excitement grew in the dugout and the stands as fans waited to see if the Tillers would score their first run. Up next, Dustin Durand (#9) with Cole Hoskins on first base and Anthony Walters on third. Dustin Durand slammed the ball into the outfield. The Tillers screamed as Anthony Walters ran for home and scored the first run before the Eagles could catch the ball and throw Durand out. The fourth inning ended with a strike out by Hector Rivera: Tustin-1 and Eagles-0.
During the fifth inning, Domnick Lokeijack (#13), Dailin Lee (#14), and David Bohorquez (#7) all hit singles. Tension grew again as Anthony Walters went up to bat with bases loaded and two strikes on Tustin. Anthony swung and sent the ball flying, but before Domnick Lokeijack was able to reach home, the Eagles caught the ball and tagged Anthony Walters out. The fifth inning ended with no runs, still keeping the Tillers ahead by one run. The Eagles made a run during the sixth inning sending the game into a seventh and eighth inning with no runs for either team.
The 9th inning began with Dustin Durand (#9) hitting a double. Hector Rivera (#25) went up to bat and bunted, sending himself to first base and Dustin Durand to third. Tyler Ryan (#19) was send to first after the ball hit him, moving Hector to second. With bases loaded, Dalton Rasmussen (#24) walked to the plate and managed a walk-off home run. Tiller fans jumped out of their seat as Dustin Durand reached home, ending the game.
The Tustin Tillers play Corona Del Mar Wednesday March, 11.
