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Encinal (12-12) entered the 7th inning down 5-4 to rival Piedmont (16-8) looking to take back the WAC Shoreline League crown and punch their ticket to the playoffs. However, the Highlanders remained a thorn in the Jets side, pulling off an 8-4 win on May 6 at Willie Stargell Field.
“Obviously not the result we wanted in the end,” Senior Tate Johnson said. “But we just told each other we hopefully will have another shot at them when it really counts.”
Johnson had two hits and a run scored in the game.
The Jets were atop the league standings before losing to Piedmont twice, including a 14-9 loss at Piedmont in which Encinal committed 10 errors in one inning. However, the two teams will play a pivotal third game against each other on May 12 for the WAC Championship.
The game did not start well for the Jets as the Highlanders jumped out to a quick 5-3 lead after two innings. Senior Chadd Edwards, who was marvelous in his previous start, struggled early and often.
“I just wasn’t locating very well,” Edwards said. “The mound didn’t feel all too familiar for me for some reason.”
But Edwards got out of the third unscathed before Senior Alex De La O came in to pitch three innings of shutout ball.
The game was a tale of missed opportunities for both sides. Encinal left the bases loaded in the second and third, hitting into a double play to end the third. Down 5-4 in the fifth, the Jets had runners on second and third with one out, only to have two batters caught looking on strikeouts. Piedmont left the bases loaded in the fourth and left runners on the corners in the fifth. De La O recorded a big strikeout to end the fifth.
“I was proud of the team, how they competed,” coach Trevor Sampson said. “I told them to keep their heads up, the season is far from over…we get to play for the conference championship Thursday.”
Over the last four years Encinal and Piedmont have battled for Shoreline League supremacy. The Highlanders won a regular season title in 2021 and defeated the Jets in the 2018 WAC Championship. Encinal defeated Piedmont in the 2019 WAC Championship.
“We all want another shot to beat them,” Sophomore Angus Olaes said.
Piedmont has won 7 of its last 10 meetings with Encinal.
The Jets bounced back to defeat Hayward 13-4 on May 7.
Familiar Foes 🏆
2021 - Piedmont wins league title (no championship game played)
2020 - Season cancelled
2019 - Encinal defeats Piedmont 3-1 in WAC Championship
2018 - Piedmont defeats Encinal 4-2 (8 in) in WAC Championship
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