Day one of the 2024 Sunset League Playoffs occurred on Sunday, July 21st. The first game was at 11 AM at Mt. Sac between the four-seed Diplomats and the five-seed IE Pirates. The second game was at Citrus at 1 PM featuring the six-seed Badlands and the three-seed Jays.
At Mt. Sac, the Pirates took an early lead by taking advantage of a Diplomats error to score one run in the first.
After this, the game became a pitchers' duel. Both starting pitchers were excellent, each going seven innings in a game that flew by.
The Diplomats' defense was also excellent, turning three double plays to end three consecutive innings. The first double play was a strikeout-throwout from the catcher, and the next two were routine double plays up the middle.
The Pirates added another run to their lead in the seventh and looked poised to hold on to it until their pitching faltered in the eighth. After their starting pitcher was removed, the Pirates struggled to find outs, leading to a five-run eighth inning for the Diplomats.
The Diplomats pitching held up and they were able to win the game 5-2 and qualify for the second round.
The game between Badlands and the Jays was certainly not a pitcher duel. In the top of the first, Badlands loaded the bases and dropped a few bloopers into the outfield for a four-run first inning.
The second inning was even worse for the Jays, as Badlands hit multiple RBI doubles to extend their lead to 9-0. Over the next four innings, Badlands would run the score up to 16-0.
Offensively the Jays struggled mightily, getting no hit through the first five innings.
The highlight of the game through the first six innings was the trash-talking between the two sides, resulting in warnings being issued and one Jays player being thrown out.
The Jays finally scored in the sixth inning, but it did not affect the attitude of the dugout much.
It wasn’t until their teammate got thrown out that a flip was switched. In the bottom of the seventh, the Jays went up to the plate with newfound passion and drive.
The Jays loaded the bases and sprayed the ball all over the field. Within moments, the Jays had scored four runs, but they were still down 11.
Then, with the bases loaded, Flynn Barnes came to the plate and crushed a ball way over the 20-foot tall wall in left. After the improbable ninth inning, the score was 16-9.
What happened next felt like a fever dream. The Jays quickly shut down Badlands and then came up to the plate and rallied again.
Once again, the Jays loaded the bases. Badlands hit a batter, making the score 16-10 and bringing Barnes back to the plate.
In one of the wildest moments ever seen on a baseball diamond, Barnes once again demolished a home run, this time even further over the left field wall.
The Jays dugout and their fans erupted and their Badlands counterparts sat with their jaws on the floor in pure shock.
Badlands was finally able to get out of the inning, but they appeared humiliated.
After another quick inning on defense, it appeared that the Jays had all the momentum to finish off the unbelievable comeback.
Unfortunately for the Jays, Badlands was finally able to lock back in with the pitching holding together long enough to get three relieving outs.
Badlands will have another tough test on Tuesday as they will have to face the No. 1 Mavericks at APU at 2 PM.
The Diplomats will also play at APU but at 5 PM against the South Bay Saints.
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