NVC Baseball Sweeps Yuba College
NVC baseball team sweeps Yuba, extends winning streak to 5 in a row
The Napa Valley College baseball team extended its winning streak to five in a row as the Storm swept a Bay Valley Conference series from Yuba College of Marysville last week, winning the three games with a high-scoring offensive attack.
Playing a doubleheader on the road on April 30, Napa Valley won both games over Yuba, 8-4 and 9-0.
Returning home to Storm Field on May 1, Napa Valley completed the sweep, beating Yuba, 19-12.
There was no shortage of firepower, as the Storm produced 46 hits – 14 for extra bases – in the three games.
In nine games so far during the state’s Spring II season, Napa Valley (6-3) has some very impressive offensive numbers:
* Runs scored: 89.
* Batting average: .357.
* On-base percentage: .465.
* Slugging percentage: .539.
* Home runs: 8.
In an eight-inning game, Napa Valley scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning in its 8-4 win. Christopher Blyskal scored on an infield error, Bronson Wyman drew a bases-loaded walk, and Dominick “D.J.” Pautin drove in a run on a single in the eighth-inning comeback for the Storm.
Blyskal scored on a wild pitch, Caleb Jeske had a sacrifice-fly RBI to right field, and Tony Diaz had an RBI single in the Storm’s three-run third inning.
John Adkins singled in a run in the fourth inning.
The leading hitters were Diaz (2-for-5, RBI), Andrew “A.J.” McMahon (1-for-4), Wyman (2-for-3, double, RBI), Pautin (2-for-4, RBI), Blyskal (2-for-3, double, RBI), Adkins (2-for-3, RBI), and Wyatt Dorman (1-for-4).
Tanner Fonoti got the after pitching a complete game, allowing four runs (all earned), 11 hits, walking two and striking out 12. Fonoti faced 36 batters.
Erik Altemus threw a complete game to get the win as the Storm shut out Yuba, 9-0.
Altemus gave up only four hits in the seven-inning game. Altemus faced 25 batters, walked one, struck out nine, and hit two batters in a game that lasted 1 hour, 46 minutes.
NVC’s five-run third inning was led by McMahon’s three-run home run, Koby Sherwood’s RBI single, and an RBI single by Adkins.
NVC’s two-run fifth inning was led by Blyskal with an RBI double and Jeske with an RBI single.
The Storm scored two runs in the sixth inning, as Blyskal delivered an RBI double and a groundout by Adkins plated a run.
Again, there was a lot of offense for the Storm.
Its top hitters were Jeske (2-for-4, RBI), Diaz (1-for-3), McMahon (1-for-4, home run, three RBIs), Derrick Robinson (1-for-1), Wyman (1-for-3, double), Garrett Guy (1-for-1), Pautin (2-for-4), Sherwood (1-for-2, RBI), Blyskal (2-for-4, two doubles, two RBIs), Adkins (1-for-4, two RBIs), and Dorman (2-for-4, double).
In the third and final game of the series, NVC scored early and often – seven runs in the first inning, four in the second inning, two each in the fifth and sixth innings, and four in the seventh inning.
The first inning was led by Blyskal’s two-run single, Sherwood’s RBI single, Austin Mattos’ RBI single, Jeske’s run-scoring single, and an RBI fielder’s choice from Diaz.
Blyskal singled in a run, Dorman drove in two runs with a double, and Jeske knocked in a run with a single in the second inning.
Pautin had an RBI double in the fifth inning.
Diaz had a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
Dorman had an RBI double, Diaz had a two-run single, and McMahon singled in a run for the Storm in the seventh inning.
Wyman started and pitched five innings and gave up six runs (three earned) and five hits, walked four and struck out nine. Wyman faced 25 batters.
Jayge Campbell allowed three runs (two earned), two hits and walked two in one inning. Campbell faced seven batters.
Adrien Garcia pitched two innings and was charged with three runs (all earned) and five hits, walked two and struck out one. Garcia faced 12 batters.
Luis Santamaria struck out two in one scoreless inning. Santamaria faced three batters.
NVC was led by Jeske (2-for-5, two RBIs), Diaz (3-for-5, home run, five RBIs), McMahon (2-for-5, RBI), Pautin (2-for-4, two doubles, RBI), Blyskal (2-for-6, three RBIs), Sherwood (4-for-5, two doubles, RBI), Dorman (2-for-4, two doubles, three RBIs), Mattos (1-for-3, RBI), and Garcia (1-for-1).
Napa Valley and Laney College of Oakland meet in a three-game Bay Valley Conference series this week at Storm Field in Napa.
The first game is Thursday, May 6 at 2 p.m.
The two teams play a doubleheader on Friday, May 7, with games at 12 and 3 p.m.
Napa Valley’s 21-game schedule continues into late May.
Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in September of 2019. martyjames.sports@gmail.com