Everyone expected the rebuilt baseball team to struggle as underdogs all season. Few expected the Falcons to finish second after powerhouse Palo Alto in the De Anza league.
Even though the team did not achieve a third consecutive league championship after a 0-5 start in league, the hours of tough practices and preparation resulted in a rewarding season. Senior infielder Joey Medeiros was the team’s leading hitter. Junior pitcher Tyler Yoshihara emerged as the standout pitcher, ended the season with a 5-5 record on the year.
The Falcons went in as the ninth seed in the open division of CCS against eighth seed Branham on May 20. The Bruins started strong left-handed pitcher Arman Sabouri, who held the Falcons to four hits, winning 2-0.
The Falcons managed to strand one runner at second base during the entire game. Yoshihara pitched all seven innings and put up a fight against each Bruin hitter, stymying the Bruin offense. However, the Bruins hit a home run in the first inning on a fly ball that carried out and was boosted by a strong wind to right field.
In the fourth inning, the Bruins scored a second run on a wild throw by Yoshihara on a pickoff to third. The Falcons tried their best to get runners on base but were unable to solve the lefthander.
“Not being able to hit was our weakness all season, and it showed in our last game,” senior infielder Billy Vithanage said.
On May 12, the Falcons faced Palo Alto at home in the first game of the league championship series. The team had previously crushed the Vikings in regular league games a few weeks before, but they fell short in this game, losing 14-3. The Falcons maintained a steady scoring pace in the first half of the game, but the Vikings had a hit parade in the seventh inning that scored seven runs in the seventh inning.
The team faced the Vikings yet again at Palo Alto on May 14. With an interruption from a 20 minute rain shower, the team battled the Vikings for their last chance at forcing a third series game. The Falcons were down 2-0 after the Vikings’ at bat in the bottom of the fifth.
As the Falcons entered the dugout for their the top of the sixth, senior Evan Lindeman shouted to his comrades, “Do or die boys, it’s do or die!”
The Falcons ended up scoring one home run in the sixth inning but Paly answered right back, bringing the score to 3-1. The Falcon offense was quiet in the seventh inning, and they lost the league championship series to Palo Alto.
Although the season ended abruptly with these three losses, the defeats do not represent the success that the team achieved in the entirety of the season. Players said head coach Adam Varteressian never lost faith in the young team and pushed his players to exceed expectations.
“I am most proud of how the team battled together throughout the season overcoming adversity each and every day,” senior catcher Adin Roskoph said.
