The Santa Rosa Junior College baseball team staged a dramatic comeback on Tuesday night, erasing an 11‑6 deficit to post a 12‑11 victory over Modesto Junior College and secure a spot in the Regional Finals.
A Coach’s Unwavering Message
Assistant Coach Tom Francois reminded his players that they were winners regardless of the outcome, a mantra that seemed to echo throughout the game as the Bear Cubs fought back.
Starter Cody Collins opened the scoring for Modesto, but the early lead was short‑lived as Modesto Junior College’s offense surged ahead.
The Bear Cubs answered in the second inning, with Cooper Wood and Trevor Schlafer delivering three RBIs that shifted momentum.
Reliever Jayden Hunt entered the mound and tossed two scoreless innings, buying time for Santa Rosa’s bats to regroup.
Modesto’s head coach Alex Leach argued with the umpire and was quoted saying, “Warn me, I don’t give a fuck,” a moment that added intensity to the contest.
In the fourth inning, Justice Brinson and Trevor Schlafer delivered hits that set up J.T. Summers’ RBI single, narrowing the gap.
A subsequent pitching collapse allowed Modesto to pull ahead 11‑6, but the Bear Cubs refused to surrender.
Through the sixth and seventh innings Santa Rosa’s offense kept rolling, chipping away at the deficit and scoring four crucial runs.
Kessler Koch closed out the game with a strikeout, preserving the lead and sealing the win.
The Final Inning Thriller
In the ninth inning, both Brinson and Schlafer were hit by pitches, and J.T. Summers drove in the tying run, setting the stage for a walk‑off.
Brett Neidlinger delivered a clutch single that brought home the winning run, sending the crowd into celebration.
The Bear Cubs will now face Ohlone College in the Regional Finals beginning on Friday, May 15, as they look to carry this momentum forward.