Golden West Defeats Delta, 8-6, In Game 1 At State

Fresno, CA - San Joaquin Delta made the trip back to Fresno where they have been runner-up in state each of the two previous years. They enter the state tournament this year with a perfect 6-0 postseason record. Golden West came to state winning their first game of each postseason series, extending that streak today by defeating Delta, 8-6, to open the state tournament.

Delta jumped on the board in the 1^st inning by Nik Poirier with a double to right field and advanced to second on a ground ball, scoring on a wild pitch.

Golden West was able to tie the game in the bottom of the 2^nd when John Shattles singled home Cody Marshall. Delta was able to quickly take the lead in the third putting up three runs by doubles from Eddie Sievers and Vidales, along with a single by Nik Poirier. Golden West waited just over an inning when Marshall lead off the bottom of the fourth with a single. On two outs John Shattles had an infield single where he slid head first into first base to beat the throw by the second baseman. Knapp and Tyler Depreta proceeded to get on base, loading the bases for leadoff hitter Christ Rodriguez. Rodriguez hit a fly ball just outside the reach of the diving center fielder for a triple which cleared the bases to give Golden West a one run lead. Delta scored in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Shea Sbranti to tie the game until the bottom of the eighth when Delta recaptured the lead with Poirer's single to right field, who eventually scored on a fly ball off the wood bat of Joe Montes down the right field line for a double.

Delta showed great defense through the first seven innings of this afternoon's game, but let that slip in the 8^th when Mustangs gained a one run lead. Their closer Calvin Riley entered the game to replace Mikey Wright. The inning started with an error on the second baseman, with the runner advancing to third after two outs and then the wheels came off. A single by John Shattles up the middle followed by a poor throw to first allowed Shattles to advance on the play. Phillip Knapp hit a ball to first which went off the first baseman and into right field for an error. A great throw by Marcus Vidales to the plate would have been in time, but was dropped by the catcher and allowed Shattles to score. Golden West put up another run later in the inning to finish the game with eight runs.

Delta will now play at 10:00am on Sunday, facing the loser of tonight's game between Santa Rosa and Cypress. Golden West advances in the winner's bracket and will play the winner of tonight's game on Sunday at 2:00pm.