ANAHEIM – It is said that character is tested in times of adversity.
If its first two games of the playoffs are any indication, Sonora’s character is being put to the test often.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Raiders again faced various challenges but came out with a 5-2 victory over Katella in a CIF-SS Division 4 second-round playoff game at Boysen Park.
While the Knights (17-10-1) provided Sonora (20-8-1) with a scare, most of the obstacles the Raiders faced were self-inflicted.
Leading 3-1 in the sixth inning, the Raiders helped the Knights put runners at second and third base with a two-out throwing error.
Starting pitcher Austin Weddle walked Josh Cedillo to load the bases for Andres Agredano, who worked his way to a full-count. But as he did several times in the game, Weddle stepped up when his team needed him the most. He struck out Agredano looking with a fastball.
Weddle threw over 100 pitches and was pulled after 6 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out six.
“Early in the game he was only able to throw his fastball, but we knew if he didn’t throw his change-up or curveball, we were in trouble,” said Sonora coach Patrick Tellers. “He just kept battling through it and got out of a couple jams.”
The Raiders failed to capitalize on many run-scoring opportunities in the game, but got enough timely hits to propel them to a quarterfinals matchup against Serrano, a 5-2 winner over Victor Valley on Tuesday.
With his team leading 2-1 in the sixth inning, Gabe Armstrong extended the lead with a run-scoring double to deep center, just out of the reach of Angel Lopez‘s diving attempt.
The Raiders added two runs in the seventh.
