SAN BERNARDINO – Adam Quintana woke up Saturday not feeling well because of flu-like symptoms, but he knew he needed to pick up a win on the mound if San Bernardino Valley College was going to make the playoffs.
The former San Gorgonio standout felt great, however, after going eight strong innings and allowing just two runs and striking out 10 to lead the Wolverines to a 15-2 Foothill Conference victory over visiting Antelope Valley.
The 21st win of the season ensured San Bernardino Valley of its first playoff trip since 2005 and Quintana helped his own cause with two hits and three runs scored as his high school coach Bill Eatinger looked on.
San Bernardino (21-14 overall) finished 16-8 in conference and tied Chaffey for second place, but the Wolverines won the head-to-head season series two games to one. Quintana also improved to 6-2 and lowered his ERA to 1.61.
“Adam didn’t feel well at all this morning and I asked him if he still wanted the ball and he didn’t hesitate in answering,” manager Bill Mierzwik said.
“He’s a warrior and after the second inning, he really settled down and hit his spots and was very effective.”
Joseph Szczepanski was excellent in the leadoff spot for San Bernardino Valley as the freshman first baseman went 4 for 5 with three runs scored and two RBIs to pace the Wolverines’ 12-hit attack.
Brett Torrence had two hits, a run scored and an RBI, but it was his play on defense that tilted the momentum in the Wolverines’ favor.
Antelope Valley’s (14-20, 11-13) Ryan Marshall singled home Cory DeRush in the top of the fourth to give the Marauder’s a 2-1 lead and looked like to make it more, but Torrence’s throw to the plate retired Aaron Owen to end the inning and minimized the damage.
San Bernardino Valley took the momentum in the bottom of the fourth and scored six runs on four hits and capitalized on four Antelope Valley errors to take a commanding 7-2 lead.
“Getting out of the top of that inning and getting six runs in the bottom took all the pressure I was feeling away and I was able to relax and do my job,” Quintana said. “It feels great after falling just short of making the playoffs last year to do it this season.
“Later in the game, I felt like I was hitting my spots and mixing my pitches well.”
Josh Alonzo was just 1 for 4, but the Wolverines’ second baseman scored three runs and drove in three.
“We did a lot of things well today,” Mierzwik said. “We got some timely hitting, took advantage of some of their mistakes and even though we needed a three-game sweep to make the postseason our kids played with a lot of composure.”
Four Antelope Valley pitchers combined to walk six batters and hit five more in a long day for the Marauders.
Marshall had two hits and two RBIs for Antelope Valley.
Kevin Verdeja went the final inning for the Wolverines and struck out two batters in the ninth inning.