Taft postseason run ends with playoff series loss at Sacramento City

An impressive 2019 Taft College baseball season came to an end following the No. 13-seeded Cougars' 6-3 loss at No. 4 Sacramento City College in Game 2 of their California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Northern California Regional Playoff series. Sacramento City advances to Round 2 of the playoffs with its 2-0 series win.

On Friday, Taft couldn't hold an early 2-0 lead. RBI singles by James McCallum and Wes Herbert in the bottom of the third inning (TC was the designated home team for the second playoff game) gave the Cougars a two-run advantage.

The Panthers responded by scoring three runs in the top of the fourth to go ahead before Taft came right back to tie up the ball game. Herbert smacked a RBI triple to bring home Jake Pearson in the bottom of the fifth to even up the score at 3-3.

But Sacramento City (30-11) went ahead for good with a run in the sixth and added two more in the eighth to secure the victory.

Herbert went 2-for-4 with his triple and 2 RBI to lead the Cougars at the plate. Michael Barker took the loss after allowing four runs and six hits over his six-inning start. He struck out four but walked seven.

Taft made its second consecutive postseason appearance under head coach Vince Maiocco. The Cougars closed the season with a 25-16 overall record and finished just a game out of first place in the final Central Valley Conference standings at 16-5.