Day two of the 2024 Sunset League Championship took place on a peaceful summer afternoon at Mt. Sac’s beautiful Mazmanian Field. It was here that the Socal Mavericks won their first Sunset League Championship, but it certainly didn’t come easy for them.
After losing the first game on Thursday, the Diplomats needed to win game two to force a winner-take-all contest in the evening. Terrific pitching and timely hitting helped them take game two, but they weren’t able to carry the same momentum into game three.
The Mavericks looked poised to take a strong lead in the first inning after they loaded the bases with no outs, but Diplomats starter Logan Long was able to strike out a batter and get the next one to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The Diplomats also loaded the bases in the first inning, but they were able to cash in on the opportunity. A fielder’s choice brought one run across and multiple defensive mistakes from the Mavericks extended the inning, allowing the Diplomats to bring two more runs across.
The long inning finally came to an end when the Maverick’s left fielder made a great throw to cut down a runner at home, ending the inning and stopping the bleeding.
The Mavericks fought back shortly after by leading off an inning with a double and two singles bringing in their first run of the day. A double play allowed another run to score but halted the Mav’s momentum.
The Diplomats’ best hitter, Chris Smith, responded by hitting a leadoff triple to the wall in right-center. Smith was brought in a few pitches later on a line drive that deflected off of the pitcher and knocked him out of the game.
With their starter injured, the Mavericks had a tough time finding outs and they allowed the Diplomats to extend their lead to 6-2.
The Mavericks looked dangerous in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs, but Long was able to shut them down once again to finish his impressive complete game and even the series.
The Diplomats created a lot of momentum for themselves heading into game three, but the Mavericks looked rejuvenated after the 30-minute break between games.
Three consecutive singles from the Mavericks in the bottom of the first started the rally. A Mikey Hanano single brought in the first run and a Ryan Tyner single brought in another. The Mavs were given another run on a bases-loaded walk.
A crushing throwing error from the Diplomats’ catcher capped off the inning, allowing the Mavericks to score another two runs to establish a 5-0 lead.
In the second inning, the Mavericks once again loaded the bases with no outs for Hanano. Hanano hit the ball hard at the second baseman, allowing the Diplomats to turn a double play while still scoring the runner from third. The Mavs runner on second attempted to catch the Diplomats sleeping by trying to score, but the first baseman was alert and threw him out at home to turn a rare RBI triple play.
The Mavericks’ defense faltered in the fifth with back-to-back errors and a hit loading the bases, but they were able to come up with a clutch double play to keep the Diplomats scoreless.
The Mavs added another run to make the score 6-0, but the Diplomats finally made a dent in the sixth with a two-run RBI single up the middle.
The Mavericks responded with two insurance runs on a Christian Takahashi double to put the game out of reach.
The Diplomats scored a couple more late in the game, but their pitching could not hold the Mavericks offense down.
After a hard-fought six hours, the Socal Mavericks finally emerged as victors of the 2024 Sunset League Championship, completing their quest to become the regular and postseason champion.
Inland Valley Baseball Association 