Paloma beats Moreno Valley, clinches Ivy League title

Chapman Weber pitched a strong game for Paloma Valley and picked up the win. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 
By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Paloma Valley High baseball team clinched their league title with an 11-3 victory over Moreno Valley at home Wednesday afternoon. The victory gave Paloma a 19-1 overall record, 9-0 in the Ivy League.

After Moreno Valley took an early lead with two runs in the first inning on a passed ball and steal of home, Paloma looked to starting pitcher Chapman Weber to close out the inning and hold them at two runs until the Wildcat offense took control.

One run came in for the Wildcats in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly, while two more came in on a double from Bubba Heidler, giving them the lead for the first time.

“It felt great to go out and do that for my team,” Heidler said. “My teammates have been supporting me all along and it feels great to be here where we are right now.”

The next inning brought three more Wildcat runs in, while the fifth brought in one more, making the score 7-3 going into the sixth—when the rally really erupted.

With two outs, after one walk and a single, Paloma had four straight base hits (three singles and a ground-rule double) that scored four runs before the seventh. Moreno Valley put one run on the board in their last chance at the plate but no more crossed home and the Wildcats took the 11-3 win.

Weber took the win with five strikeouts in four innings with four walks, three hits and two runs allowed. Weber’s performance on the mound was one his coach, Jason Berni, said made him proud, not because of perfect numbers, but because of his ability to play well imperfectly.

“We like to call it a good off day,” said Berni. “Because he wasn’t doing anything perfect, but for a game with this performance to be his off day means a lot to us as a team, since he still pushed through.”

Weber said his team’s ability to perform defensively and back him up on the mound gave him the confidence to push through his struggles.

“I’m so glad to have this team. They always have my back,” Weber said. “I’m a pitch-for-contact pitcher and they react well to the contact and it gives me so much confidence.”

Offensively, the Wildcats’ bats were hot across the lineup. Brayden Bessette had two doubles in the game, leading the team. Heidler, Weber and Jacob Melendez also had doubles. The team totaled 13 hits while Moreno Valley had just six.

This game and league title is one of four things Berni told the team at the beginning of the season they needed to win, the others being two big tournaments and the CIF playoffs.

“It feels good to be here and check that off the list,” Berni said. “I really love working with this group of kids and know they’re the ones who can do it. They work through adversity so well and I hope people from the community will get to come out and watch them play.”

The next home game for Paloma will be against Chaparral on Saturday at 10 a.m. after a road matchup with Moreno Valley on Friday afternoon.

Ayden Harrison throws to first to prevent an infield hit for the opposition. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 Bubba Heidler slides safely into second base for the Wildcats Wednesday. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 Jaxon Baker heads for third base during one of his team's big innings. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 Chapman Weber hits a double leading off the first inning for Paloma. (Photo by Rick Rowell)