HISTORIC HUSKIES
by Stephen Morales
@grecomeco23
It is one of the oldest sayings in baseball. You are only as good as your next days starting pitcher.
Pitching is the key in baseball. Your opponent could have an offense that resembles the 1927 Yankees, with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, but if you have pitchers that resemble Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson, it does not matter how good that offense is. Pitching is the great equalizer, which will keep you in ballgames.
On a sunny weekend at Palomar College, the East Los Angeles College Huskies proved that saying again to be true.
Entering the CCCAA Baseball So Cal Regional playoffs for the first time in five years, the Huskies drew the top seeded Palomar Comets. The Comets who came in at 33-6 certainly looked the part of the top seed in Game 1, a 11-2 win over the Huskies.
But on Saturday for Games 2 and 3, the Huskies and head Coach Alec Adame had their aces up their sleeves. As in two aces, Francisco "Paco "Dominguez and David Morales.
Boy did those aces deliver as the Huskies shocked the Comets and the baseball world with victories of 2-1 in Game 2 and 7-4 in Game 3 to win the regional series two games to one and advance to the Super Regional round.
According to South Coast Conference and Pasadena City College SID Robert Lewis, this is the first time a 24 seed has knocked off a #1 seed.
"After facing Palomar's Ace LHP Kyle Carr in Game 1 on Friday, We felt very confident even though we got beat 11-2. I felt our hitters took good (aggressive) AB's against a guy that's going to be drafted in the top 3 Rounds of the MLB Draft. Carr was up to 97 MPH, and I felt our hitters didn't back down. We had 8 hard contact AB's against Palomar on Friday, and I expressed to our hitters to feel really good about that, because if we stay aggressive in the next game offensively, we will have an opportunity with our own Ace on the mound in Paco Dominguez." Adame stated.
Down one game to none after the Friday loss, the Huskies knew they needed an ace to stop the bleeding. They turned to Dominguez, who has done it so many times this year. Dominguez retired the Comets in order in the 1st inning and then faced runners on base in multiple innings but always found the way out with the Huskies helping behind him turning multiple nifty double plays and running down deep fly balls in the outfield.
Knowing they needed to get their ace some runs; the Huskies went to work in the 2nd. As this was Game 2 of a best of 3 series, the Huskies were the home team for this game. Beno Olmeda led off with a single before being sacrificed to 2nd on a bunt from Alex Mendez. A booming double from Julian Eskridge scored Olmeda and the Huskies had the lead.
The Comets threatened over the next three innings but were held in check each time. In the bottom of the 5th, the Huskies struck again. After Richard Ponce walked and went to 2nd on a sac bunt from Daniel Vierra, back-to-back singles from Ruben Hernandez and Michael Easter drove in Ponce for a 2-0 lead. The Huskies dreams of a big inning were thwarted on a great stab of a Mendez liner that turned into a double play.
Dominguez seemed to gain strength from that Huskies rally, retiring the Comets in order for the next two innings. In the 8th with two outs, two Comet singles got the first run off Paco and the Comets were back in the game at 2-1. Paco would bear down and get a force out to end the inning before retiring three of four batters in the ninth inning to secure the 2-1 win and even the series at a game apiece. Paco would finish his complete game with three strikeouts and surrendering seven hits.
Adame could not overstate what the Dominguez performance meant.
"In Game 2, Francisco Dominguez was fired up to pitch in a game with our backs against the wall again! Another must win situation. Paco was focused and confident with all of his pitches working on all cylinders. Our defense picked us up when we needed it the most as well. I felt like we were all behind Paco in Game 2, because Palomar hit the ball absolutely hard about 5 times right to our defense. It could have went either way. It felt like it was our day!"
Now that first game of the day was exciting. However, it was nothing compared to what we would see in the 2nd game.
As game two began, the Huskies were back as the visiting team and sending David Morales to the mound. The Huskies missed multiple scoring chances in the first two innings and for the first time in many starts, Morales looked human on the mound, giving up three runs in the first two innings. Morales would settle down and get through the next six innings scoreless. So, despite not being on his A-game, Morales would keep the Huskies in the game. He would even pick two Comet runners off. Now they needed the offense to step up.
It started in the top of the 3rd as Vierra singled. After Hernandez sacrificed him to 2nd, Olmeda would single him in. The Huskies were on the board 3-1 and in the game as Morales worked into and out of trouble in the 3rd and 4th.
The Huskies came to bat in the top of the 5th looking to make their mark. Vierra led off with a booming shot off the wall that resulted in a triple. He would score on a Hernandez single. He would move to 2nd on a sac bunt from Easter. After Olmeda was hit by a pitch, Mendez flew out and Hernandez alertly moved to 3rd. Eskridge chopped one towards the shortstop who had to wait and hurry his throw. Eskridge dove for the bag and beat the throw by inches. Hernandez scored the tying run, and we had a new game.
Morales bent but didn't break in the fifth and sixth, and the sixth inning would end on a nifty double play from Hernandez to Vierra. At this moment, the momentum was clearly with the Huskies and the dugout was buzzing. Adame called his offense for a quick meeting. The time was now.
With one out Easter singled. Olmeda would strike out but on a dropped strike 3 Easter would move to 2nd. Mendez would walk and Eskridge would get another infield single. With the bases loaded and two down, the Comets went to the bullpen and Emiliano Campos was at the plate. With a new pitcher on the mound, he stood tall and calmly worked out a walk bringing in Easter for the Huskies first lead of the game. A wild pitch would bring in Mendez and the Huskies led 5-3.
Armed with the lead, Morales would allow a pair of runners but finished the 7th with a strikeout and the Huskies came up looking for more. Ponce would single and after a sacrifice and groundout, would be at 3rd with two down. Easter would foul off multiple pitches before lining one to center. It was going to drop but the center fielder attempted to make a diving catch and the ball rolled to the wall. Ponce scored and Easter ended up at 3rd. Olmeda would reach on an error that drove in Easter and the Huskies led 7-3. Now the Husky dugout was REALLY jumping.
The Comets would again put a pair of runners on before Nicholas Bobadilla made a web gem circus catch in center field to end the inning and preserve the four-run lead. The Huskies wouldn't score again in the ninth and Morales walked back to the mound to finish the job.
Morales got two quick outs and the Huskies were smelling the upset. A mini Comets rally would produce one more run before Morales got a ground ball that Hernandez flipped to first and the Huskies mobbed Morales on the mound.
Ballgame over. Series over. Huskies win two games to one. Historic upset complete.
Morales finished his complete game with three strikeouts and while giving up fourteen hits, he also stranded fifteen runners on base.
Adame was equal in his praise of Morales.
"In Game 3, David Morales did not have his "A" game early for us. He was missing spots and bouncing pitches. He struggled, but fought through it. Palomar was able to capitalize on it by scoring 1 run in the first inning, and two runs in the second inning. Offensively, we were able to chip away and cut our deficit to 2 runs in the 3rd inning. When we were able to tie the ballgame in the 5th inning, that's when Morales got his confidence back, and started locating his pitches for us! When we scored two more runs in the 7th inning, that's when David Morales saw our chances to advance, and he took off and performed like he did in his last two outings of the regular season! It was fun to watch!"
After a joyous celebration on the mound, Adame gathered his team in left field starting with a simple phrase. "I'm proud of you."
Husky Athletic Director Bobby Godinez spoke to Adame shortly after the win. The AD was overjoyed to see what the Huskies pulled off.
"I can't say enough about the hard work and resilience Coach Adame, his staff and his players have shown. They believed and now fight to play another day. I'm ecstatic." Godinez said.
As the Huskies sat in left field at Palomar College Stadium, basking in the glory of one of the biggest baseball upsets in recent memory, they looked at each other and knew each one had played their part. Strong pitching, timely offense, defense, heads up running, had all mixed together to pull this monumental upset.
Coach Adame put it in context. "Winning this series regional means so much to our program! With the way we overcame a tough start to the season and a tough start in this playoff series, it says a lot about our Team's character! They have been battling and grinding all year! With the grind including all the team meetings, competitive practices, 5:50 AM Weights, the adversity of losing early, and the true value of the "Team Concept": What these young men have experienced to help prepare them for the next level is paying off right in front of their eyes! It's special! This is what it's all about; our guys are understanding and currently going through and experiencing what the process truly means, and becoming a successful team together!"
Al Michaels once asked as the USA Hockey Team defeated the USSR "do you believe in miracles?" As the Huskies prepared to head home to ELAC, every coach, player and fan knew the answer after witnessing this day. A resounding "YES"
While the Huskies celebrate, the work is not done. They will advance to the CCCAA Super Region Tournament this upcoming weekend at Fullerton College. ELAC will be in a Super Region with the host Hornets and the LA Valley College Monarchs. The Huskies will open Thursday at 11am against the Monarchs.
Adame looked ahead a little bit. "The next round is going to be the battle of the underdogs! This one is going to be fun to watch, because all three teams are higher seeds. I know Chad Baum will have his club (Fullerton) prepared and ready to go! I have a lot of respect for Chad, and the way he runs his program just by witnessing him in action as an assistant coach at the NCAA D1 level in previous years. I know LA Valley will also be prepared and ready to go! Head Coach Dave Malles is a very good friend of mine. We are both products of the same program when we both still played the game. I know he is a winner, and his club is going to play the game like we do! It's going to be another fun battle!"
A final note from me on this momentous day. I have had the honor and privilege of working 2 World Series, a Super Bowl, and an MLB All Star Game. I can honestly say I have never had as much fun at a sporting event as I did on Saturday May 6th at Palomar College watching these Huskies pull off this upset.
GO HUSKIES