Magic still left in Vaqueros bats

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — Chris Cictuo looked for a walk-off suicide squeeze bunt to win the game for his Glendale Community College baseball team Saturday.

Instead, the Vaqueros got a game-ending grand slam from Julian Jarrard in the bottom of the 10th inning of a 5-3 victory over San Diego Mesa in the first game of the best-of-three first-round series of the Southern California Regional Saturday at Stengel Field.

"His first one came at a great time," said Cicuto of Jarrard's first home run of the season, which silenced teammates who had been poking fun at him for being the only Vaquero in the starting lineup without a bomb. "The guys have been riding him a little bit and I think he showed he was due and just waiting for the right time."

Glendale Community College (26-10) will look to advance to the Southern California Super Regionals, as it needs to win one game against the Olympians (20-16) today. Play starts at Stengel at 11 a.m. with a second game, if GCC loses, taking place afterward.

Jarrard's slam delivered the Vaqueros a victory in a game that was headed for a loss after they spoiled a number of opportunities to take a lead, as the team piled on 12 hits in the game but was 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position through the first nine innings.

"I guess the jokes have stopped for now," said Jarrard, the No. 9 hitter, who went two for three in the game. "Our team always finds a way to battle back and put ourselves in a position to win, and luckily I was a part of it this time."

Cory Popham kept Glendale in striking distance through the offensive struggles, as the starting pitcher surrendered just one run on three hits, a walk and a hit batter and struck out seven through 8 2/3 innings.

GCC's first opportunity to take a lead and end the game came in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied at 1.

Sergio Plasencia (three for five) and Chris Stroh got on base to start the inning for the Vaqueros via a single and walk, respectively. GCC soon had runners at the corners, as Plasencia tagged up to third on a deep fly to center field from Edgar Montes.

The golden opportunity was squandered when a suicide-squeeze bunt was lined back to San Diego Mesa pitcher Brian Kaye, who doubled up Plasencia at third.

"Honestly, I have to say even for me I was kind of upset," said Stroh, a Crescenta Valley High graduate. "It made me think about what other possibilities are going to happen, like how we're going to get by tomorrow."