Cats edge Eagles, 1-0
SAN DIEGO — The baseball teams from Brawley Union and Southwest high schools rose to the occasion of playing on a Major League Baseball field, delivering stellar performances at Petco Park in an exciting game that ended in a 1-0 victory for the Wildcats here on Friday night.
Brawley senior Robert Brodell went the distance on the mound, striking out two batters in the final inning, while senior catcher Jacob Sapp gunned down a runner at second base to end the game and help the Wildcats remain unbeaten in Imperial Valley League action.
“Oh, yeah, I wanted it really bad,” Brodell said with a smile. “I was going at them on the first pitch that whole inning.”
Brodell was effective all night and threw just 87 pitches through seven innings of work.
“I could go three more innings, honestly,” Brodell said.
Sapp was equally as excited after the game, saying as a catcher, it’s a definite goal of his to throw out as many base runners as he can.
“I do feel like I can always throw them out,” Sapp said.
Brodell’s Eagle counterpart, Ethan Ross, also went the distance, making the game a true pitching duel.
The lone score of the game came in the sixth inning after Brawley’s Jonathan Gonzalez opened the inning with a double and eventually came around to score on a passed ball.
The Wildcats fought tooth and nail for the run as the Eagles’ Ross also threw an efficient game and worked to pick off three runners throughout the game, preventing the Wildcats from advancing to scoring positions.
The game was memorable for all the players and coaches involved and particularly for those in the Wildcat program who also had the opportunity to play on a collegiate field last season in the CIF San Diego Section Div. III championship game. “I really do feel like it’s a blessing,” Sapp said. With the victory, the Wildcats maintain the No. 1 spot in the IVL standings with a 4-0 mark, while the Eagles drop to 1-5.