David A. Willauer-Contributing Writer-Triton Field-UCSD-San Diego, CA-Saturday May 27, 2023: For the first time for the second oldest high school in San Diego and 3 other CIF San Diego Section Finals losses to LaCosta Canyon by a 7-4 score in 2004, Poway in 2006 as they lost 6-2 and last year lost to Mission Bay by a very heartbreaking 5-4 loss here at Triton Field, for the first time in school history, the 2nd seed Warriors of Fallbrook defeated a very strong Maranatha Christian ballclub by a 2-1 score for the 2023 Division III Boys San Diego Section Baseball Tournament. ‘
Pat Walker Head Baseball Coach at Fallbrook High: “I’m proud of our kids there was no doubt in my mind that we won the game.” ” My starter for Tyler Allegro was used as a middle reliever most of the season but never started until today and pitched well against a very outstanding Maranatha ballclub.”
“Also for my other pitcher Tanyon Smith has pitched well in relief and did a outstanding job,” “Tanyon contributed for our team as hit a line drive RBI single that scored Wil Sherman for the first run of the game.” said Coach Walker
“We played small ball with a bunt to win which was our goal Jace Cervantes laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line and reached on a fielders choice scored Anthony Thomas for the second run of the game, Jace made outstanding plays in the CIF Semi Final game is athletic and has been great defensively all year long.” said Coach Walker
Fallbrook scored first in the visiting 3rd as 9th batter Wil Sherman singled and scored the first run on an rbi single by Tanyon Smith put the Warriors up 1-0.
The Eagles of Maranatha Christian tied the game at 1-1 as Levi Ham was hit by a pitch and scored on Zeke Smith’s infield groundout from second base to first base.
In the visiting 6th, 4th batter Anthony Thomas led off with a double, first baseman Jace Cervantes bunted as he reached first base on a fielders choice rbi scoring Anthony Thomas with the winning run as the Warriors prevailed by a 2-1 score and claimed their first CIF Division III baseball title in school history.
Jace Cervantes on the winning rbi: ” I was doing my job as I give my teammates credit for doing their part by being a team player.” “After the game was tied at one, the second run was scored on my rbi fielders choice, we played as a team and won.” “After winning your first CIF title in school history I feel it’s starting to sink in.”
Anthony Thomas scored the game winning run and doubled: “Their pitcher Joe Wittig was having a great game out there we knew that we played small ball for us to take the lead we decided to put the squeeze bunt on and Cervantes got the bunt down reached first on a fielders choice,” “I felt 100 percent that I scored the winning run.” “Throughout the whole time we had jr Tyler Allegro started on the mound for us as he hasn’t started for us this year has pitched really well for us and I have a lot of confidence in him and Tanyon Smith closed the door in the end.”
Winning pitcher Tanyan Smith came in relief for the Warriors and for the Eagles of Maranatha Christian Joe Wittig is the loser.
Both teams will await word for the upcoming CIF State Regional Tournament.
