A Playoff Dream Cut Short
The Rio Mesa High School baseball squad saw its CIF‑Southern Section postseason hopes evaporate after a rule violation was uncovered in the quarterfinals.
Senior right‑hander Daniel Puebla threw all eight innings in a 2‑1 victory over Saugus on Friday, a performance that propelled the Spartans to a 15‑1 streak since March 26.
However, Puebla had already logged three innings earlier in the week, pushing his total outs for the calendar seven‑day span to 33, three over the CIF Bylaw 1500 limit of 30.
The extra inning that decided the game tipped the team into the prohibited territory, forcing the coaching staff to forfeit the win and the spot in the semifinals.
Coach Jake Regalado acknowledged the oversight, self‑reported the infraction to the CIF, and emphasized the team's integrity despite the disappointment.
Rob Rodriguez's two‑out, two‑run triple had put the Spartans ahead, but the subsequent forfeit reshuffles the bracket, leaving Saugus to host Glendora in the upcoming semifinals.
While the episode marks a bitter end to a remarkable run, Regalado highlighted the squad's strong performance and the lessons learned as they look ahead.