California season ends with loss to Blair Oaks

The California Pintos baseball team's season ended with a 12-1 loss to Blair Oaks at the district championship game May 14, 2019.
The California Pintos baseball team's season ended with a 12-1 loss to Blair Oaks at the district championship game May 14, 2019.

The California Pintos baseball team season ended with a tough 12-1 loss to the Blair Oaks Falcons in five innings May 14 in the Class 3 District 14 championship game.

The Pintos were able to get runners on base in the top of the first inning but were unable to bring anyone in to score. In the bottom of the first, Blair Oaks scored two runs to take a 2-0 lead as the Falcons took advantage of a couple of Pintos errors.

California cut the lead to one run in the top of the second inning, as Lucas Ash hit a lead-off double. After advancing to third base on a groundout, Ash scored on another groundout by Calen Kruger to make it a 2-1 game. After the second inning, California would struggle on offense as they finished the game with only two hits.

Head coach Steven Stock said the team struggled once Blair Oaks pitcher David Dell got his curveball going.

"He threw it in good locations, and we just struggled putting the bat on the ball. He is a good pitcher, and he beat us," Stock said.

Blair Oaks would begin to pull away from California in the bottom of the second inning. The Falcons scored four runs in the inning to make it a 6-1 game.

California would go down in a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third while Blair Oaks pulled away by scoring six runs.

The Pintos finish the season with a record of 15-9. Gabe Bailey and Lucas Ash led California with one hit each in the game. Bailey also pitched two innings for the Pintos.