Roseville keeps rolling with over Woodcreek

It's been another strong season for Roseville's High's baseball team. The defending Sac-Joaquin Section-champion and CIF NorCal Regional runner-up has only lost four games and won their 20th game Tuesday night against Woodcreek at McBean Park in Lincoln. The Tigers, for the first time since coach Eli Garcia has been with the program, also has earned the Foothill Valley League championship. "It was my first time leading this team to a league championship and I'm super excited about it, but we know that we're nowhere close to being done," he said. With losing only two or three key players from last year's team, the Tigers have all the talent necessary to be a strong team and have a good season. Like last year, the team has had success by doing a lot of the little things correctly. "It's been the accumulation of playing well in every aspect of the game; pitching, defense and finding different ways to score runs," Garcia said. "It's been really fun to watch. Pitchers Tyler Ritter and Ethan Gustus, those guys have been a privilege to watch. Guys like that don't come around too often." Of their top nine guys who have the most at bats, six are hitting above .300 and two are hitting .400 or above. Sophomore shortstop Ben Jordan is hitting .444, while junior first baseman Cash Fischer is hitting .400 on the nose. Those hitting above .300 include Jacob Welch (.375), Preston Cubbler (.361), Devin Johnson (.338) and Justin Fischer (.333). Ashton Chang is also hitting .357. "Ben Jordan is coming off a great freshman season and he's come back with a pretty good sophomore season," Garcia said. "I'm excited to see what he does tonight and the rest of the way. Devin Johnson has been a great addition for us. Everyone is doing their part. We've had a lot of guys put some good numbers up." In the 6-1 win over Woodcreek, Roseville got on the board first with two runs in the third inning. With one out, Justin Fischer doubled to start the rally. Jordan walked and Welch followed with another double to drive in Fischer. Johnson then followed with an RBI single to score Jordan. Woodcreek managed a run in the top of the fifth inning. Dylan Nash started the inning with a single, and Sterling Mathis sacrificed him to second before Trace Murchison singled Nash home. That's the only run the Timberwolves could get off Ritter, who pitched six innings and allowed five hits and struck out 12 without allowing a walk. Roseville tacked on two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to win the game 6-1. In the fifth, Austin Chang led off with a walk and Justin Fischer put down a perfect bunt and was safe at first. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and after Woodcreek starter Ayden Gomez struck out Jordan, he was replaced by Tyler Thompson. Thompson plunked the first two batters he faced on two pitches, allowing Chang to score on the second one. Christian Fischer then hit a sacrifice fly to score his cousin, Justin. In the sixth inning, Roseville scored two more runs on a passed ball and wild pitch. Colton Wolfe came in to pitch the seventh inning and close the door. Things are going well for the Tigers, who finish up the regular season with a home game Friday against Woodcreek again. They've got their sights set on another deep playoff run. "It's going to take doing the little things right, that's what gave us a lot of success last year," Garcia said. "Winning pitches, taking games one at a time and not getting too far ahead of ourselves. Just doing the little things right. We've always emphasized that. On offense that's causing chaos with every single at bat and every single pitch."