Tracy Press

 
West High's playoff game was called on the 10-run rule as the Wolf Pack lost 12-2 to Beyer in a Wednesday playoff game.

It was a tough day for West High starting pitcher Ryan Devencenzi, who gave up a two-run homer in the first. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

West batters had to work for the few opportunities they did get, and managed to turn two of the team’s four hits into two runs in the fourth inning. It wasn’t enough to overcome Beyer’s third and fifth inning rallies.

The game ended in the fifth inning when Beyer pitcher Kyle Barrett, with bases loaded, blasted an 0-2 pitch right back at West relief pitcher Matt Fontaine, hitting Fontaine on his throwing arm. Two runners scored as West infielders scrambled for the ball. That gave Beyer the 12-2 lead and ended the game on the 10-run rule.

West’s chance for a comeback came in the fourth inning when Anthony Salsedo led off with a drive down the right field line for a double. With one out he scored on Mike Wentz’ sacrifice fly to center field. Rico Martinez came up right after Wentz with two out and pounded the ball over the left field fence at Klein Family Field at the University of the Pacific for the Pack’s second run.

“Their pitcher got into a rhythm and our team keyed in on that rhythm,” Martinez said, adding that he let the first pitch pass for a ball and knew the next one would be in the strike zone. He expected to hit the ball as soon as Barrett let go of it, and that was the advantage he needed for a big hit.

“He was throwing hard. It was hard to read. Our bats were a little slower than his pitching.”

West High’s Rico Martinez (No. 20) gave the Wolf Pack something to cheer about with a fourth-inning homer. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

“To be able to get it done that quick is a relief,” he said.

Beyer scored two in the first with a single and a two-run homer by Blake Barber off West starting pitcher Ryan Devencenzi. Clark said Barber just recovered from an injury in time for Wednesday’s game.

“He’s our team leader. When everyone saw he was alright they rallied around that,” Clark said.

The Patriots scored on a single with two on in the third, and then loaded the bases for designated hitter Mason Ankeney. He hit the ball to deep left-center to drive in three. Center fielder Anthony Salsedo got the ball back to cutoff Riley Goulding, who threw to Fontaine at third tag out Ankeney as he tried to stretch his hit into a triple. Beyer loaded the bases again and scored two more on a base hit from leadoff batter Joey Roy.

“We left some pitches out and they knocked it around the yard,” West coach Jim Rice said afterward. “They just kept hitting through their lineup.”

Beyer scored four more in the fifth inning with a pair of singles off relief pitcher Fontaine. An infield error and a batter hit by a pitch loaded the bases again and a walk scored another run. That was followed by Barrett’s hit back at Fontaine.

Beyer moves on to the second round Monday at UOP against Golden Valley.

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