Riverside Poly edges Summit, goes on in D3
TODAY
Times and sites are subject to change SOFTBALL Quarterfinals
RIVERSIDE >> Pitching in front of the biggest Riverside Poly’s biggest crowd since at least 2019, Pierce Sailer felt the heat.
The 6-foot-2 righthander struck out four and walked two in a complete game as the Bears came from behind to beat Summit 3-2 on Tuesday in a CIF Southern Section Division 3 second-round playoff game.
“We just got a fire under us right now,” Sailer said. “We can do it and we know we can. We’ve been down all year and now we’re up.”
Sailer settled in, mixed his slider, changeup and his fastball as a crowd of more than 400 spectators watched Riverside Poly (13-13) get back to .500 on the season. The Bears now have won back-toback games after losing three consecutive sliding into the playoffs.
“He was really dialed in today,” Poly coach Billy Ermert said. “When he works ahead of hitters and doesn’t fall behind he can be really effective.”
Poly, which defeated Cerritos 10-0 in the first round, advances to play top-seeded La Quinta in a quarterfinal round game Friday.
“This is huge for us,” Ermert said. “We underachieved during the regular season but I think they’re starting to believe and it’s exciting.”
Quinn Stewart got the start for Summit (15-12-2), which reached the second round for the second time since 2019.
Led by Stewart’s six early strikeouts, the SkyHawks held a 2-0 lead after a pair of run-scoring singles in the top third inning but could not maintain the lead.
“We were starting to see a lot of traffic (on the bases) so his pitch count was getting up and they were able to score some runs,” Summit coach Samuel Lopez said.
Poly loaded the bases in the fourth and grabbed a run on an RBI groundout from Ty Mattson.
Luke Medure started the fifth with a single up the middle. Lopez had seen enough from starting pitcher Stewart, who struck out six in four-plus innings of work, and went to Jason Carrillo out of the bullpen.
“We really saw (Stewart) start to weather and fatigue and we had to go to the bullpen, and (Poly) was able to square up and get some hits,” Lopez said.
Cristian Soto hacked the first pitch he saw from Carrillo through the right side of the infield, and Gavin Browne laid down a bunt to load the bases for a third consecutive inning for Poly.
Jacob Pickering tied the game with an RBI bouncer past third base, and Mason Schumacher plated the go-ahead run on a groundout.
Sailer (3-0) retired 10 of 11 batters from the fourth to the seventh and was economical in his pitch count, needing 10 or fewer pitches in each of the final three innings. He allowed just two hits over the final four frames – including a 1-2-3 sixth inning – to close out Poly’s first home playoff win since 2014.
“I feel like after the third inning I definitely got stronger,” Sailer said. “It’s always tough until you get some run support and get some energy, and the crowd was electric today.”