Panthers beat PV on walk-off - Enterprise-Record

PREP BASEBALL

Panthers beat PV on walk-off

Back-to-back hits by Neugebauer brothers lift Chico to win over rival Pleasant Valley

Chico High’s Abraham Medina, left, celebrates with the team after hitting a home run against Pleasant Valley on Friday at Skip McDonald Field at Chico High School. BEN MOTA, ALL AXIS SPORTS — CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Pleasant Valley High’s Brayden Blizman slides home against Chico on Friday in Chico.

Chico High catcher Ryan Heym, right, tags out Pleasant Valley runner Giuseppe Bianchi, left, to prevent the tying run from scoring in the top of the fifth inning on Friday in Chico.

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By Justin Couchot

jcouchot@chicoer.com

CHICO >> Back-to-back hits by brothers Jaden Neugebauer and Jordan Neugebauer led to a 7-6 walk-off victory for the Chico High baseball team against Pleasant Valley.

The Panthers (22-1, 11-0 Eastern Athletic League) defeated the Vikings (12-12, 6-5 EAL) to complete a three-game series sweep, with the first two games of the series going to extra innings before the walk-off in the finale.

With the Panthers and Vikings tied at 6-6 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Jaden Neugebauer led off with a double, and brother Jordan Neugebauer then hit a soft line drive that faded down the right field line to score Jaden.

Pleasant Valley took a 1-0 lead after three innings, before scoring three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead. Chico scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to go on top 6-4 lead, but the Vikings tied the game after scoring one run in the fifth and one run in the sixth.

Jaden Neugebauer led the Panthers with three hits, including a double and one RBI. Blake Bettencourt had one double and three RBIs, and Abrahan Medina had a two-run home run.

PV out-hit Chico 9-7 despite the loss, led by three hits from Scotty McKeown and three hits from Dominic Borges. Borges had the Vikings’ lone extra base hit, a double, in addition to two RBIs. Brayden Wynkoop, a sophomore, had two hits and two RBIs.

On the mound Chico’s Neugebauer pitched five innings and allowed seven hits, five runs (one earned), and four walks while striking out seven. Tanner Horn pitched two innings and allowed two hits and one earned run and struck out two. For PV, Holden Franks pitched four innings and allowed five hits, six earned runs, walked two and struck out three. Trent Soinila pitched two innings and allowed two hits, one earned run, walked two and struck out one.

With the win the Panthers swept the Vikings in the three-game regular season series. However, the EAL standings did not change. Chico remains in first place and PV remains in second place, with Red Bluff (13-9, 6-6 EAL), Shasta (13-10, 5-7 EAL), Foothill (10-11, 4-8 EAL) and Enterprise (8-17, 3-9) rounding out the standings.

Chico, which has won five straight, will close out its regular season with a doubleheader for senior day at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday against Foothill. The Panthers travel to Palo Cedro to face the Cougars in their regular season finale at 6:30 p.m. May 2. PV plays a pair of games at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday against Shasta for senior day. The Vikings face River City at 4 p.m. at home Monday in non-league play before their regular season finale at 4 p.m. May 2 against Shasta in Redding.