After over a year of seemingly endless dominance, the Palm Springs Power winning streak has finally been snapped.
The Power last lost during the 2023 CPCL to the Inland Valley Legends. Palm Springs looked poised to continue their success and finish the 2024 season unbeaten as well. Over the last calendar year, the Power had played and won 51 games in a row.
Their impressive 51-game streak came to an end at the hands of the fourth-place Inland Valley Bucs.
For both teams, the game was the last of the CPCL season, meaning Palm Springs was only nine innings away from being the first and only team to have an unbeaten CPCL season.
The Bucs’ pitching led the way, with starter Derek Ryan going six innings, only allowing three hits and one run.
Ryan forfeited his only run in the second, then proceeded to put up four blank frames.
The offense had Ryan’s back and gave him the win by scoring two runs in the third and adding an insurance run in the fourth.
Nick Mascaro drove in the Bucs’ first run on a two-out single to right field. The Bucs’ second run came a few moments later after the Power issued a bases-loaded walk to Noah Madole.
The Bucs did an excellent job of taking advantage of uncharacteristic mistakes from Palm Springs.
In the fourth, Carter Vanderhook was walked, then advanced to third on an error, putting him in position to score on a passed ball a few pitches later.
Outside of these two innings, Palm Springs starter Richie Amavizca was amazing. Over 7.2 innings, Amavizca struck out 12 batters and only allowed five hits and two earned runs.
Despite Amazca’s great outing, the Power still couldn’t rally against the Bucs pitching.
Ryan was replaced after the sixth inning by Hudson Myers. Myers faced some trouble in the eighth and surrendered one run, but he was ultimately able to preserve the now 3-2 lead.
Myers allowed a runner in the ninth but quickly closed out the inning to solidify the Bucs’ victory.
Though the Bucs missed out on the playoffs, they did prove they could play at a high level by ending Palm Springs’ illustrious winning streak.
The Power finished the regular season in first place for the second year in a row.
Inland Valley Baseball Association 