Stallions’ baseball season came to an end Thursday with a 4-3 nail-bitter 11th inning loss, but claimed 3rd place in league and earned a legitimate spot in playoffs.

But let’s see how the boys got there.

The Stallions varsity baseball season has had its ups and downs as their 28 game season has come to an end, but the Stallions’ galloped into post season play this week.

Opening up league play against Laguna Hills and winning 17-1 catapulted the Stallions to get to an early lead in the Sea View League. Getting huge wins against both Mission Viejo and Trabuco Hills put the Stallions to a first place record of 3-0 going into Spring Break.

After coming in 3rd place out of 64 teams in the Anaheim Lions Tournament, the Stallions kept momentum by becoming the first team in SJHHS history to sweep a team in league by winning both games against Laguna Hills.

With the boys having huge success, the team’s confidence was high. But baseball is a game of adversity and failure and that is exactly what the Stallions experienced.

“Baseball is full of failures but it is important we stay true to our teammates and play for each other. Just because we have lost some games, doesn’t mean we can’t turn things around, that is what baseball is all about,” said Jaq McCarthy (12).

The previous 5-1 record all of sudden came to be a 5-5 record with losses to Mission Viejo and Trabuco Hills. With a lot of adversity and games not going their way, it was important the boys kept their heads straight.

Entering last week, the Stallions sat in third place with San Clemente. In order to reach playoff for the first time in 3 years, the Stallions would have to win both games.

The Stallions opened the two game series with an extra inning victory on Tuesday, May 11th, against San Clemente’s talented pitcher and MLB prospect Andre Palante. The 2-1 win came thanks to Stallions’ Nick Hernandez (12) for a amazing pitching performance and Jake Lachemann (11) for winning the game with a walk-off single, “It felt really good to get that win for the team.” said Lachemann.

Following their 2-1 victory, the Stallions clinched a post-season birth on the final game of the season by defeating the Tritons once again 5-4 in extra innings, thanks to five solid innings by starting pitcher Riley Glenn (12), as well as offensive performances by Connor Glenn (11), Nick Hernandez (12), and OC Varsity Player of the Week, Jake Lacheman (11). However, it was the Stallions’ Marcus Williams(12) who catapulted the team into the playoffs with his game winning double in the top of the 8th, scoring two runs. Jack McCarthy (12) then closed out the game, sending the Stallions to the CIF Playoffs for the first time in 3 years.

“I’m very excited and happy to experience all of this with my brothers,” said  Williams.