COD (10-21; 8-7) tied the game at 6-6 going into the ninth inning, but even the first home run of 2017 hit at home couldn't keep the Imperial Valley Arabs (3-30; 1-17) from their first Conference victory of the season, 9-6.

The Roadrunners sophomore center fielder Travis Tanaka (Honolulu (HI) St. Louis) clobbered his first home run of the season in the, a two out, solo shot in the bottom of the seventh. Tanaka went 3 for 5 on the afternoon, with two runs scored and a run batted in.

It was an interesting day at the plate for sophomore designated hitter Jason Nall (Playa del Rey St. Bernard) as he was twice hit-by-pitches, walked twice and reached on a bunt single.

Imperial Valley got onto the board first, which had not happened all series, scoring two unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning. The Roadrunners responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the fourth.

Tanaka opened up the fourth with an infield single and Nall was then plunked for the second time of the game, putting two runners on with no outs. Sophomore right fielder Trenton Covel (Palm Desert Xavier Prep) would put down a beautiful bunt sacrifice to move the runners and Tanaka would dart home on a wild pitch, to make the score 2-1.

The Arabs would put two more runs on the board in the top of the sixth and Desert responded with two more of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Nall would lead off the inning with a walk and Covel would reach on a single to left, putting Nall at third base. After Covel stole second base, Nall would scamper home on a ground out to short by freshman third baseman Nicholas Follett (Toronto (ON) Bishop Allen Academy). Covel would head home on a wild pitch to make the score 4-3, with the Arabs holding onto a one run lead.

In the top of the seventh, Imperial Valley added two more runs and Tanaka responded as he clobbered a home run to left, keeping the Roadrunners within striking distance, 6-4.

Then Desert tied the game at 6-6 with a couple of runs in the bottom of the eighth, as Follett reached on a one out error by the Arabs third baseman and sophomore short stop Dominic Velasquez (Palm Desert Xavier Prep) would follow that up with a bunt single. Freshman pinch hitter Brandt Celli (La Quinta H.S.) would take supreme advantage of his opportunity as he plopped a single into right, scoring Follett and getting Desert to within one, 6-5.

The Arabs coaching staff had seen enough and adjusted their entire infield to make the short stop the new pitcher and after a pop up for the second out, freshman second baseman Jerred Soriano (Honolulu (HI) Moanalua) punched an opposite field shot to right, sending Velasquez home and tying the game at 6-6.

Photo by Britney Vargas (COD Sports Information)
Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.