Despite senior Ben Felix throwing three strikeouts, head coach Chris Millsback decided to make a pitching change, switching in freshman Nate Jakobs and freshman Jack Christian.
The Cavs started out strong, even after the close loss in game one. (Read the recap here.)
Felix gave the Cavs an early 2-0 lead with a single, bringing in junior Emil Erickson and Jakobs.
This lead gave the Cavs some breathing room throughout the game, as they continued to trade runs with the Lions.
It came to the seventh inning. The Cavs were trailing, 7-6, and it was do-or-die again.
Jakobs, looking to start the Cavs’ comeback train, stepped to the plate. After a swing and a miss on the first pitch, he hit a line drive down the left field line.
Now it was junior Aidan Cunningham’s turn.
He stepped up to the plate and, following Jakobs’s lead, hit another single into left field, advancing Jakobs to third.
Unfortunately, freshman Blake Lincoln and senior Jacob Sands struck out and flied out respectively.
Senior Jacob Durante was the Cavs’ last hope. And just like Jakobs and Cunningham, he hit a line drive to left field.
This brought Jakobs in, tying the game at 7-7. The Cavs looked to take the lead and close out the game, but Christian struck out swinging.
Towards the end of the top of the eighth, Faith put together four straight runs, making the game look out of reach for the Cavs.
But Jakobs, Felix and Cunningham weren’t going to give up easily.
Jakobs started off the inning with a single and a stolen base followed by Felix being walked.
Jakobs then stole third, and Felix advanced to second on defensive indifference.
Then with Cunningham at the plate, Jakobs scored on a passed ball, bringing the score to 11-8. Immediately after, Cunningham got on base via error, and Felix advanced to third.
With runners in scoring position, Lincoln stepped to the plate and hit a fly ball to left field, bringing in Felix and advancing Cunningham to third. The score was now, 11-9, with runners on base.
This is when Faith Christian head coach Brad Indelicato subbed in senior Caleb Crist at pitcher.
Crist struck out the two remaining Cavs’ hitters, Durante and Sands.
Although the Cavs dropped both games, Jakobs still sees this as a learning experience and is optimistic about the season.
“Playing two games is a great way for guys, especially those newer to the game, to get experience,” Jakobs said.
And with an hour-long drive back to Sacramento, Jakobs used the time to tweet about his impressive stat line of nine steals and two triples.
When asked about his spectacle of nine steals, he simply replied with a GIF of Jarrod Dyson captioned “wheels.”
Clearly Jakobs is ready to bounce back from their loss when the Cavs face off against Trinity Prep High School on Tuesday, April 19, at 4 p.m. The location is still to be determined.
—By Jake Longoria
