Paloma Battles Back From 6-1 Deficit, Defeats Temescal

Sophomore Michael Galvan hits an RBI single to score the go-ahead run in the sixth inning of Paloma Valley's win.

The Paloma Valley High School baseball team came roaring back from a 6-1 deficit to win in dramatic fashion on Thursday, defeating Temescal Canyon, 7-6.

“That was a big character win for us there,” said Paloma Valley head coach Chuck Kemp. “There’s no quitting in us, so we just kept battling, kept battling, made some adjustments and things worked out for us. Guys came up with some big hits.”

Going into the fifth inning, the Wildcats trailed by five. After scoring one run on an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Michael Galvan, senior third baseman Ryan Kemp took advantage of the gusty winds and hit a three-run home run to left-center field. This put Paloma Valley a run away from tying the game.

“That was a lot of fun to watch,” said Coach Kemp, Ryan’s father. “I did turn into a dad there for a second and really enjoyed that.”

With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Wildcats tied the game on an RBI sacrifice fly by senior Domanic Monachino, then took a one-run lead on an RBI single by Galvan. While two Titan runners reached base in the top of the seventh, the Wildcats were able to hold on to their lead and take the win. Galvan went 3 for 4 with two RBIs in the game for the Wildcats.

“[Monachino] was down with two strikes right away and just kept fouling pitches off, fouling pitches off, fouling pitches off,” said Kemp. “That was just a great character at-bat right there, and then Michael [Galvan] put it ahead.”

Paloma Valley starting pitcher senior Parker Fokken struggled in the early innings with finding the strike zone and getting Temescal Canyon batters out. Before the Wildcats even had bats in their hands, they trailed by three runs, and after going down in order in the bottom of the first, the Titans scored two more runs in the top of the second.

Fokken settled in on the mound after the rocky start and pitched three more innings, only allowing one more run. He was relieved in the sixth by junior Payton Dobbs, who struck out the side, giving the Wildcats the momentum they needed going into the bottom of the inning.

Dobbs even helped himself in the bottom of the sixth, getting on base with a single and eventually scoring the go-ahead run. He received the win for the Wildcats with five strikeouts and no earned runs.

“Momentum is huge, especially for a young pitcher like Payton [Dobbs] who’s ready to take the thing and take that energy with him to the mound, and then go three up three down. That really showed what that boost of adrenaline did for us,” said Kemp.

Paloma Valley is now 9-7 overall and 4-1 in league. The Wildcats will try to keep this energy with them over the next week, as they do not play again until April 16, which will be a home game against Lakeside High.