The Skyline Trojans baseball team (14-21) took to the home field for the final time this season on a sunny but windy Tuesday afternoon looking to get a win over the Hartnell Panthers (10-25). The Hartnell Panthers (Salinas, Calif) have struggled this season to get any momentum going.

Asked before the game how important a road win would be for his players, Panthers Head Baseball Coach Rich Givens said “Every win is important.” Coach Givens also said, “The players have played hard all year.” With Givens decision not to return next year, his players attempted to rally around him.

The Trojans left handed starting pitcher Connor Taylor faced off against Jacob Naval. Taylor started the game dealing, retiring the first 12 batters in order. He was backed up by his teammates since the beginning when Nick McHugh doubled in the first. It didn’t lead to a score, but it did set the tone for the game. Skyline College did score when sophomore catcher Matt Fosse delivered a double that saw Vince Lozano and Lucci Molina both score and go up 2-0.

“I think my double that got the two runs in kind of set the tone for how we were going to play the game: aggressive and energetic. Looking into the dugout and seeing my teammates going nuts definitely put a smile on my face.” Fosse said.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Trojans were again threatening to widen the 2 run lead with Lance Montano and Molina on base, but Shaun Kemp, who relieved Naval in the third inning, got the Panthers out of the inning without letting Skyline College score.

In the top of the fourth inning Taylor kept the Panthers off the scoreboard as he tossed his fourth consecutive scoreless inning and hadn’t allowed a hit or walk up to that point. At the bottom of the fourth, the Trojans would again score against Panthers pitcher Gilberto Camacho.

Camacho was the third pitcher for the Hartnell Panthers, as their coach Givens seemingly wanted to empty the bullpen. Lozano hit a single and McHugh hit a sacrifice RBI to bring the score to 4-0 in favor of Skyline. Taylor’s perfect game was broken up in the fifth inning by a single from Ivan Sanchez, however he kept the Panthers from scoring and Kevin Brown did the same for the visitors.

The Hartnell Panthers finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning thanks to 2 unearned runs bringing the score to 4-2; however, the Trojans didn’t take long to answer back scoring three runs of their own. With the bases loaded Nick McHugh was hit by a pitch to bring in Lozano. Nobuaki Suzuki would then hit a single with the bases loaded to bring in a second run and the Trojans were up 6-2 over Hartnell. The third run was scored when right fielder Joey Carney smacked a single to left field. Skyline College would leave the sixth inning with a 7-2 lead.

Sean Collins then pitched a scoreless seventh inning in relief of Taylor. Michael Franco also replaced Nick McHugh in center field. Panther’s pitcher Abel Hernandez allowed two hits to Dabian Canales and Vince Lozano but got the strikeout against catcher Daniel Morales to end matters.

In the eighth inning, Collins and Hartnell’s Hernandez each pitched scoreless innings for their teams. Ivan Sanchez hit the game’s only home run in the ninth inning to deep right field which scored Jackson Duda and himself, but the Panthers could not complete the rally as Collins got the final 3 outs to earn the save and preserve the victory.

“To win the final home game for us sophomores was pretty cool. We work really hard and to put on the pinstripes and get the win…at home for the last time in, front of our home fans was a great experience. It’s a feeling I will never forget,” Fosse said.

The Trojans will play their last game this season at Monterrey Peninsula College this Thursday at 2:30 PM.