Griffins collapse ends season in sweep

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: May 9, 2022

2022 EAST COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASEBALL

ECS staff report

RIVERSIDE — Grossmont College was in the process of compiling a nice season, coupled with a first-round home playoff seriesd as its reward. But something happened over the final month of the season.

A warning shot was fired when the Griffins, then in first place, shockingly dropped a Pacific Coast Atletic Conference ballgame at Imperial Valley. However, they recovered by sweeping a series with San Diego Mesa.

Then the sky starting falling.

Grossmont closed the regular-season on a 1-7 run, then were quickly ousted from the CCCAA South Regional playoffs by third-seeded Riverside, 12-9 and 9-5, over the weekend.

Grossmont, which led the PCAC for the first-half of the year, closes the season on a composite 1-9 run, finishing with an overall mark of 22-18 after at one time holding a 21-9 mark.

On Friday (May 6), Riverside blasted six extra-base hits, including home runs by Matthew Bardowell and Daniel Garcia, as the Tigers scored six times in the first inning.

Grossmont got two hits from the top three batters in the order: Ethan Caschetta, Zavien Watson and Kaleb Tedokon, along with shortstop Jack Allen.

The Griffins cut the deficit to 6-5, but never got closed.

A similar scenario occurred on Saturday (May 7), as Riverside mounted a 5-0 lead. Grossmont again moved close at 5-3, but the Tigers again were strong late to complete the sweep.

In the tournament, Grossmont was the No. 14 seed, finishing above Southwestern, which finished secxond in the PCAC, but were seeded lower and were eliminated in a one-game, play-in contest at home against L.A.Valley.

Riverside (31-11) is the No. 3 seed.