Barstow baseball: Norte Vista hands Aztecs loss in first round

BARSTOW — Norte Vista’s Robert Dalback couldn't have picked a better time to unload his first career home run to break a deadlocked CIF-Southern Division IV section a tie against Barstow High School.

Norte Vista coach Ryan Simpson doubts Dalback won’t stop talking about the right field fifth inning blast anytime soon.

“The home run was huge,” Simpson said. “He had hit a home run one time in batting practice, and you couldn't shut that guy up about it for the rest of the year. That home run is something he is going to talk about until he graduates because that put us ahead for good.”

Aside from the pivotal solo shot by Dalback, Barstow coach Sean Sers said he felt it was the little things that led to the Aztecs' 9-6 loss.

“Norte Vista just put the ball into play and extended innings,” Sers said. “Unfortunately, those walks scored, and that made the difference in the game. I've told my kids all season that you have two outs, and you have to make good pitches to record those two outs.”

Barstow scratched and crawled back from a 3-0 early deficit. In the second, Andrew Sanchez drew a walk and later advanced on an error. Then Andrew Maes stepped up to the plate and drove in two runs to make it a 3-2 game.

The Aztecs later tied up the game, with a Chris Madero solo blast.

“That's what we are known for is our comeback,” Barstow second basemen Phil Peralta said. “After that first inning, we just weren't going to lay down and die. All season we have come back. That"s what we are known for, and we are used to it.”

Norte Visa was able to put their pitcher Freezy Small in a jam early in the game. Smalls began the game by walking Andrew Harrison, and a base hit by Luis Garcia loaded the bases. A base hit by Daniel Jauregui gave the Braves an important 2-0 advantage in the first. Then Smalls walked Dalback, automatically walking in a runner. Smalls settled down and was able to pitch out of the, trailing 3-0.

In the fourth inning, Norte Vista loaded the bases again and a hit by Andrew Harrison made the score 6-3.

The Aztecs fought back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Smalls roped a double down right field to tie the game at six. A base running error in the bottom of the fifth inning by Hernandez robbed the Aztecs of a chance to answer back. Hernandez was unable to score on a wild pitch.
After the Dalback blast, the Aztecs had their opportunity to gain momentum in the game when Peralta made an diving catch to end the sixth inning threat.

In the following inning with two outs, the Braves scored three runs on key base hits coming from Damian Dernier and Jesse Pena.

Barstow was unable to answer in the bottom of the seventh, ending one of their best seasons in the last 15 years for the Aztecs. The Barstow players said they will hold their heads up regarding this season, which is the first time in history that they have ever won the Desert Sky League.
It is believed that the last league championship prior to that was in 1997.

“This was the best season of my life,” Madero said. “Next year, we are going to come back and do it all over again.”
Peralta said he felt they did all they could.

“Everyone played their hearts out,” Peralta said. “We did everything we could for the players. We tried to make plays and bring them back up.”
Sers said, although they lost in the first round, he felt his team played like champions all season.

“That is what I've told my kids all season,”Sers said. “I've told them, champions find a way to win and they have bought into that attitude all year. It showed today,and every ball game we’ve played this season.”

Norte Vista 300 310 2 - 9 9 2
Barstow 021 300 0 - 6 9 2

Rodriguez,Dernier, Dubay, and Garcia; Smalls, Sanchez and Moorman. WP — Dernier; (B) LP — Smalls. 2B-Harrison; (B) Smalls, Muir, Hernandez. HR- Dalback, (B) Madero.

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