San Dimas’ Vaughn Coleman (28) scores in the first inning of their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
WEST COVINA — West Covina baseball’s first-year coach Steve Jimenez is keeping his perspective, knowing the Bulldogs are having a solid season and could make some noise if they get into the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs.
But West Covina saw what Goliath looks like Wednesday, falling behind quickly and losing 13-1 to San Dimas, a team that went 2-2 in the Boras Classic South tournament last week and is ranked No. 7 in Division 1.
San Dimas improved to 17-4 overall and 5-0 in the Valle Vista League while the Bulldogs dropped to 10-4-1 and 3-2.
San Dimas pitcher Jude Favela (9) makes a pitch in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
San Dimas catcher Jayden Medina (42) tags out West Covina’s Marcus Mayweather (21) at home plate in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina’s Michael Gutierrez (16) dives back safely to first base as San Dimas first baseman Kody King (24) catches the ball in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
San Dimas catcher Jayden Medina (42) tags out West Covina’s Marcus Mayweather (21) at home plate in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
San Dimas right fielder Vaughn Coleman (28) barehands a bouncer as they play West Covina in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina right fielder Jacob Patino (3) catches a fly ball as they play San Dimas in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina pitcher Vincent Marichi (18) makes a pitch against San Dimas in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina’s Ethan Okazaki (10) forces out San Dimas’ Ashton Romero (13) at second base after catching a wild throw in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina second baseman Michael Gutierrez (16) forces out San Dimas’ Kody King (24) as he turns the double play in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina’s Ethan Okazaki (10) forces out San Dimas’ Ashton Romero (13) at second base after catching a wild throw in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
San Dimas’ Landon White (8) hits in a run in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina second baseman Michael Gutierrez (16) forces out San Dimas’ Kody King (24) as he turns the double play in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
San Dimas’ Vaughn Coleman (28) scores in the first inning of their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina’s Ethan Okazaki (10) forces out San Dimas’ Ashton Romero (13) at second base after catching a wild throw in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina’s Marcus Mayweather (21) reaches first base safely as San Dimas first baseman Kody King (24) catches the ball in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
San Dimas pitcher Jude Favela (9) makes a pitch in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina second baseman Michael Gutierrez (16) forces out San Dimas’ Kody King (24) as he turns the double play in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina’s Marcus Mayweather (21) reaches first base safely as San Dimas first baseman Kody King (24) catches the ball in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
San Dimas’ Vaughn Coleman (28) scores in the first inning of their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina right fielder Jacob Patino (3) catches a fly ball as they play San Dimas in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina pitcher Vincent Marichi (18) makes a pitch against San Dimas in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
San Dimas pitcher Jude Favela (9) makes a pitch in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina’s Ethan Okazaki (10) forces out San Dimas’ Ashton Romero (13) at second base after catching a wild throw in their Valle Vista league baseball game at West Covina High School on Wednesday April 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
West Covina threw senior left-hander Vincent Marichi at the Saints. Marichi had allowed just one run in 22 innings, but the Saints tagged him for seven runs over the first two innings.
“We knew what San Dimas brings, they’re a great program,” Jimenez said. “With a team like that you can’t fall behind. You literally got to go out and play your best baseball. Unfortunately today didn’t go our way. We need to come back tomorrow and work on things and hopefully on Friday give them a better game.”
San Dimas’ Landon White, an Arizona State commit, was 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs, and UC Irvine signee Ryan Castro was 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs.
West Covina coach Steve Jimenez is not discouraged despite a 13-1 loss to San Dimas. Overall, it’s been a solid season for the Bulldogs, who could make some noise in the Division 6 playoffs. pic.twitter.com/KPvVdHz45E
Kody King was 3 for 3 with a triple and an RBI, and USC-bound pitcher Jude Favela finished the mercy-shortened five-inning game as he scattered four hits.
There are just a few weeks before the playoffs begin, and San Dimas coach Mike Regan likes where his team is at.
“Just stay focused because every game is going to be important toward the end for the playoffs,” Regan said. “We came out and threw a four-spot up and did well. We had a lot of good swings and got a lot of guys in so it was a good game for us.”
San Dimas coach Mike Regan talked about where the Saints are at following the Boras Classic and their 13-1 win over West Covina pic.twitter.com/CVcAm8obXc
The Saints’ daunting lineup leads off with Arizona State commit Vaughn Coleman and UCLA commit Kasen Khansarinia, followed by White and Castro.
The Saints had to make adjustments Wednesday, but they made them smoothly.
“It’s hard going from the Boras pitching, sitting 85 to 87 (mph) to this game with a lefty thumber,” White continued. “But we came out hot and put them away early.”
Any thoughts West Covina had of knocking off San Dimas were greatly diminished before the Bulldogs had a chance to bat.
After Marichi walked the first two Saints batters, White singled in a run and Castro singled home two more. The Saints strung together four straight hits to take a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
They kept the pressure on in the second inning. White doubled in two runs and the Saints added one more run to take a 7-0 lead.
Kody King tripled home Castro and Ashton Romero’s ground out scored King to push the Saints’ lead to 10-0 in the fourth inning.
The Bulldogs showed some life in the bottom of the fifth with three straight hits to spoil the Saints’ shutout.
