Proving that Good teams must have the ability to come from behind, the Hart JV Baseball Team rallied from a 4-1 deficit to beat Valencia at home by a score of 5-4. Mattie Hernandez singled in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs to score pinch-runner Michael Morgan with the winning run. Jenzen Torres had the other key hit of the inning, starting the Indian rally with a leadoff single to right field. Starting Pitcher, Tim Plante, went the distance to notch his second consecutive Foothill league win of the season.

Staking the Valencia Vikings to a 2-0 lead after an inning and a half, Hart got on the board in the bottom of the 2nd. Jake Hovis lead off the inning driving a ball up the left field alley that the Viking left fielder misplayed into a 2 base error. Andrew Marin then dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt which the Valencia pitcher bobbled, allowing Marin to reach base safely putting runners at the corners with no outs. Logan Foley then drew a one out walk to load the bases for third baseman, Jenzen Torres. Torres came through, driving a long sacrifice fly ball to center field to push Hovis across the plate for the Indians first run of the day.

In the top of the third, Valencia built their lead to 4-1, getting 3 hits in the inning off Plante . Down by their biggest deficit of the day, Hart answered the 2 runs scored by the Vikings in the top half of the inning. Harts patience at the plate, paid off, as 4 Indian hitters drew walks in the inning . Jake Hovis had the lone hit of the inning. Alex Pettee drew a one out walk. Jake Hovis singled to center field to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Andrew Marin then drew a walk to load the bases. With the bases loaded, Mike Cieszko walked to force across Pettee. Logan Foley then drew another base on balls to push Hovis across the plate to make the score 4-3 after 3 innings.

At this point, starter Tim Plante, settled in and took control of the Viking offense. Plante kept the Vikings in check over the next 4 innings, giving up no runs , and allowing the Indians the opportunity to come from behind. Hart tied the game in the bottom half of the 4th inning, getting key hits from Brian Klocko and Alex Pettee. Klocko lead off the inning with a single to center field. After advancing to second on a ground ball off the bat of Mattie Hernandez, Klocko scored on an RBI Single to right field off the bat of Alex Pettee to tie the game at 4-4. In the Top of the 5th, the Indian defense came up big behind Plante, who allowed a one out single to Valencia. The highlight of the inning, was a text book inning ending 4-6-3 double play, which Mattie Hernandez and Brian Klocko turned to perfection.

After Plante set down the Vikings in order in the 6th, Hart came through to take the lead for the first time of the game. Jenzen Torres, came through in the clutch, leading off the inning with a single to right field. After pinch runner, Michael Morgan , advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch, the Indians had the go ahead runner on second base with no outs. After two failed attempts to advance or score Morgan, Mattie Hernandez came to the plate with two outs. With a one strike count, Hernandez came through in the clutch , dropping a single down the right field line, to score Morgan with the go ahead and eventual winning run. In the top of the 7th, Valencia quickly threatened to get back into the game, getting a one out single. However, any Viking hopes were quickly put to bed, as Catcher Mike Cieszko, gunned down the Viking runner attempting to steal second base for the 2nd out of the inning. Plante then got the final Viking batter to pop up to 2nd baseman Mattie Hernandez for the final out of the game and a 5-4 Indian victory.

Hart in now 2-1 in Foothill League action and will play in the Hart JV tournament beginning on Tuesday at Hart.

Narrative courtesy of Del Hernandez