Colfax unable to clinch series as Ripon Christian forces game 3

Colfax knew knocking off the top seed would require near-perfect baseball. Instead, Ripon Christian delivered the early punches Thursday night. The Knights (27-3) blasted back-to-back first-inning home runs and never looked back, handing the Falcons a 6-1 loss at Colfax High School in game two of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI semifinals. Despite eight strikeouts from starter Jaimeson Rawlins and a mid-game push from the Falcons, Colfax struggled to capitalize against Ripon Christian left-hander Trenton Cloward, who pitched a complete game to force a decisive game three Friday in Ripon. "We have to make adjustments and be able to hit the outside pitch," said Colfax coach James McCabe. "We can't continue to roll over on that outside pitch. It's about making adjustments early, middle of the game, late in the game, all of it." The Falcons finished with six hits but left only three runners on base and advanced only two into scoring position. Rawlins led the Falcons with two hits and an RBI, and Jono Cleek had two hits. Ripon Christian got after Rawlins early, scoring three runs in the first two innings. Maxx Anderson and Stadler Postma hit back-to-back solo home runs with two outs in the first before Noah De Bruyn led off the second with a solo shot. Jackson Howell led the Knights with two RBIs, and Tyler Wadlow had an RBI. Cloward delivered on the mound. Ripon Christian's sophomore ace struck out six, did not issue a walk and was backed by a sharp defensive effort by the Knights' infield. Rawlins settled in after allowing the three home runs and pitched 6⅓ innings. "Outstanding job," McCabe said of Rawlins. "We made the adjustment about three runs too late, and that put us in a deep hole. With that guy on the mound throwing that changeup on the outside corner and us being too anxious, he did a very good job. But Jaimeson settled in after that, and he did a very, very good job." The series shifted back to Ripon for a winner-take-all Game 3 on Friday. Colfax (13-15-1) remained confident with multiple top arms still available. McCabe said he knew going into a third game in a series many teams are using every arm they have and he wanted to ensure the Falcons had pitchers they were confident in ready to go. "We prepared for that going in," he said. "We didn't throw Paulo (O'Brien) very much, we didn't throw Tyler (McCabe) very much, and we still have our back-end guy. (Ripon Christian) swung the bats very well today. Hats off to them." The winner will face No. 2 Amador for the Division VI section championship next week.