Chico State Advances to World Series

Chico, Calif.--The Chico State Wildcats defeated Sonoma State for the second-consecutive year in the championship of the West Regional Tournament to advance to the Division II College World Series for the third-straight season.

Chico State, (46-17) who had defeated Sonoma State 12-4 in the first round of the tournament on Thursday night, beat the Cossacks by the same 12-4 score in the championship game.

Sonoma State (40-26) scored two runs in the top of the first inning, as Jose Sandoval and Johnny Phamlead off the game with singles. Jose Cerda's one-base knock to right-center field plated both Sandoval and Pham for a 2-0 Cossack lead.

Chico took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second frame, but Sonoma knotted the score in the top of the third on Cerda's sacrifice fly, but then the roof fell in on the Cossacks.

The Wildcats first seven batters reached base and scored in the bottom of the third to knock Sonoma State starter Josh Bell (2-3) out of the game. Bell, only a freshman, was making just his second start of the season, due to the fact that Sonoma's pitching was depleted after a 17-13 victory in an elimination game Friday night.

Luke Neel started off Chico's seven-run inning with a walk, and, after two more Chico batters reached base, Shanin Veronie blasted a two-run double to give the Wildcats a 5-3 lead. After two more Chico batters reached safely, George Pena smacked a bases-loaded double to stretch Chico's lead to 9-3. Matt Daisa followed with an RBI double which scored Pena for Chico's seventh tally of the frame. In all, the Wildcats sent 12 batters to the plate in the third.

Sonoma State scored a single run in the top of the fourth when Joe Chutuk, who had reached on a single to right field, scored on a throwing error by Chico catcher Casey Glynn. Chico's starting pitcher Phil Derryman got out of the jam in the fourth when Pham hit into an inning-ending double play.

Derryman (9-1) picked up his seventh-consecutive victory for the 'Cats on a high note, as he retired the last 10 batters he faced.

Tournament MVP Bao-nhan Vinh started off the fifth with a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Doug Thomas. Luis Sanchez scored Chico's final run of the game after he doubled and scored on Derek Cordell's RBI single.

Saturday championship game marked the 10th time that the two California Collegiate Athletic Association foes played one another this season. Chico won the series 6-4 and avenged last Saturday's 13-8 loss in the CCAA tournament championship.

All-West Regional Tournament Team: C - Jake Huff (Mesa State); 1B - Cameron Kesler (Mesa); 2B - Jose Sandoval (SSU); SS - Carlos Fletes (Chico); 3B - Derek Bell (SSU); OF 0 Bao-nhan Vinh (Chico); OF - Johnny Pham (SSU); OF - Steve Guerrero (Chico); UTL - Shanin Veronie (Chico); P - John-Eric Hernandez (Chico); P - Colin Hayes (SSU): MVP - Bao-nhan Vinh (Chico).

Winner - Derryman (9-1). Loser - J. Bell (2-3). Save - None.

LOB - Chico (8) Sonoma (6). DP Chico (2), Sonoma (3).

2B - Sandoval (SSU); Daisa (Chico); Sanchez (Chico); Veronie (Chico); Pena (Chico).

Time - 2:49. Attendance - 1170.