Huntington Beach, CA - Golden West baseball (29-12, 15-6 OEC) dominated in their first playoff appearance against the San Diego City Knights (22-19, 12-13 OEC) on Friday, 6-0.
The excitement was high as fans filled the bleachers at Fred Hoover Field for the Rustlers first home playoff game of the 3C2A postseason bracket. Golden West, fresh off of an Orange Empire Conference championship, sent out the OEC pitcher of the year for their 2024 playoff debut Alex Ramos took the mound with confidence as he retired the first three Knights he saw in order. In their first offensive opportunity, the Rustlers went to work early as they have done all season.
First team selection Kaleb Duncan carried his successful 2024 campaign into the playoffs as he led off the Golden West bats with a walk and a stolen base. Ayden Garcia, All-OEC second team catcher, walked to set up the big bat of Zech Samayoa. The first team designated hitter roped an RBI single to left field to plate the first run of the game, 1-0. After two outs, the OEC player of the year stepped up to the plate. Jack Salmon flared a single to left center to score Garcia, 2-0. On the play, an aggressive Samayoa was tagged out at third base. With the exception of a hit by pitch, Ramos again took care of business in the second to keep San Diego City hitless.
After a quiet second frame from both lineups, Golden West added a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Duncan walloped a fast ball over the high left field wall for a leadoff solo blast, 3-0. Garcia followed on the very next pitch with a blast over the right field ivy wall for back-to-back home runs, 4-0. The Rustlers bats scored another run in the third frame when Salmon led off the inning as he demolished the ball over the center fielders head and against the wall for a standup triple. Robert Castillo picked up his teammate with an RBI double against the left center wall, 5-0.
Neither side was able to score in three consecutive innings until Golden West tallied a sixth run in the bottom of the eight. With Duncan on third, Andrew Kirchner lifted the ball deep enough to center for a sacrifice RBI fly out, 6-0. Ramos went out in the ninth and closed the door to earn the complete game shutout victory, 6-0.
Catcher Garcia had an incredible day at the plate as he was one of two Rustlers to collect two knocks with his 2-3 day, one RBI and two runs scored. Salmon also knocked two hits with a triple off the wall, an RBI and a run scored. Leadoff hitter Duncan set the tone with his 1-2 day, with two walks and three runs scored. Head Coach Andrew Ramos could not have asked for a better outing from Ramos as the OEC pitcher of the year finished with a complete game shutout win. Ramos went all nine innings, only allowed five hits, one walk and struck out six. From top to bottom the team played all aspects of the game well to earn their first 3C2A playoff win against the Knights. Round one and the series against San Diego City will continue Saturday as Golden West looks to advance.
UP NEXT: The Rustlers will stay home for the second game of the series against the Knights on Saturday, May 4th. First pitch will be at 11am.
