The San Joaquin Delta College Mustangs kept their championship hopes alive with a thrilling 10-8 victory over West Valley College in the final elimination game of the 2024 3C2A Baseball State Championship. The intense matchup took place at Mt. San Antonio College's Mazmanian Field this Sunday.
The Mustangs now advance to face the undefeated Saddleback College Bobcats in Monday’s championship final at 11 a.m. Delta is tasked with a challenging double victory to claim the 2024 state crown, while the Bobcats need just one more win.
Leading the charge for the Mustangs was Gabe Natvidad, who went 3-for-4, including two runs and an RBI. Teammates Dominic Rodriguez and Blaine French each contributed with two hits and two RBIs, while Mateo Garcia added a pair of hits and two runs.
West Valley put up a strong fight, with Karter Wong going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and James Bose scoring three times. Despite their efforts, the Vikings could not overcome Delta’s robust lineup.
The game saw Delta employing a strategy involving eight different pitchers. Relief pitcher Drew Peters (5-2) captured the win, and Logan Drummond clinched his first save of the year in a dramatic finish, striking out the first batter he faced and then inducing a game-ending 6-4-3 double play with two West Valley runners on base.
The Mustangs demonstrated solid offense throughout the game, especially after the Vikings tied the score at 6 in the fourth inning. Natvidad's solo home run regained the lead for Delta, and a subsequent two-run double by French along with Braeden Schnabel’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning extended their lead.
West Valley narrowed the gap in the top of the seventh and threatened in the last two innings but fell short of a comeback.
The Mustangs are vying for their fourth state title in school history and their first since 2018. A win for Saddleback would secure their first state championship since 2004, setting the stage for an epic showdown at Monday’s final.