It was a must win for both teams. Hart was 2 games up on Valencia going into the game with only 3 losses to 5 for Valencia. Hart still needs to play 3 next week against Burbank. Valencia came out on top 3-2.

Tyler Fick started for Hart and had a little trouble in the first inning. Leadoff batter Armando Gallardo hit a pop down the right field line that was caught in foul territory on a great sliding catch by Ryan Pettersen. Brian Howe singled off Matt Valaika's glove and Sean Proni was hit by pitch. Fick got a fielders choice grounder on Justin Shults and then got Casey Mulligan on a called strike 3 to end the inning without a score.

The game started out well enough for Hart. With 1 out Matt Valaika walked. Shane Carlson hit a long double scoring Valaika. After a strikeout, Matt Sreden singled sending Carlson to 3rd. But the inning ended on a popup. Hart had a run and led 1-0. In the 2nd Fick gave up a single to Garret Pascolla with 1 out but got the side out. In the Hart 2nd Ryan Pettersen singled with 2 out, but a strike out ended the inning. In the 3rd Fick gave up a 1 out single to Brian Howe but got 2 easy popups to end the inning.

Hart picked up a second run in the 3rd, but missed a big chance for much more. Valaika opened with a blooper down the right field line but was thrown out trying to streach it into a double. Shane Carlson singled. Tyler Fick hit a easy fly that was dropped by the right fielder, Howe. Matt Sreden singled scoring Carlson, but a fielders choice and a fly out ended another promising inning. Hart led 2-0.

In the 4th, Casey Mulligan opened with a walk, took 2nd on a grounder to 1st and scored on a single to center by Garrett Pascolla. The Hart lead was cut to 2-1. In the Hart 4th, with 2 out Ryan Gagnon walked and took 3rd on a single by Matt Valaika. With Shane Carlson comming up for Hart, Valencia head Coach Jared Snyder then went to the mound and brought the hook with him and relieved Nick Pappas with Nick Ferndino. Hart hopes were then dashed when Ferndino struck out Carlson Hart still led 2-1.

In the 5th, Fick got 2 quick outs including a strikeout of Brian Howe. Sean Proni singled to short, took 2nd on a single by Justin Shults and both runners rode home on a long double to left center by Casey Mulligan. Fick then struck out Michael Hur, but Valencia had turned the tables on Hart and now led 3-2. In the Hart 5th Nick Ferndino put Hart down 1-2-3 including 2 strikeouts.

In the 6th Fick got his 1st 1-2-3 inning, and Hart came to bat in the 6th down 3-2. Donny Williams opened with a single. Jake Supowit ran for Williams. After a flyout, Ryan Pettersen singled. Ryan Gagnon singled sharply to left center, but the outfielders got to it quickly and Supowit and Petterson could only advance 1 base. The bases were loaded with only 1 out. Matt Valaika hit a bounder over the mound headed for center field, but shortstop Casey Mulligan got to the ball stepped on 2nd and completed the double play at first, thus taking Hart out of another potential big inning, and as it turned out the ball game.

Fick gave up a walk in the top of the 7th with 1 out but got 2 fly balls. In the bottom of the 7th Hart went meekly with a pop up and 2 strikeouts to end it. Hart had 10 hits to 7 for Valencia, but got only 2 runs and 1 was un-earned. Tyler Fick struck out 5 walked 2 hit 1 batter. Hart got 2 walks and struck out 7 times.

Hart is now 14-7-1 (7-4 in the Foothill League). Hart next plays at Valencia on Friday May 6.

Narrative courtesy of Mike Gaber.