Bearcats Win Glendora Tournament

Bearcats Corey Hare, Nico Calderaro and Tournament MVP Jason Plowman all slammed home runs to help Bonita defeat Glendora 8-4 and win its first-ever Glendora Tournament

Backed by another offensive barrage and more clutch pitching, the Bonita Bearcats defeated the Glendora Tartans, 8-4 at Henderson Field Saturday night to claim their first-ever Glendora Tournament championship. After losing to the Northview Vikings, 4-3, in the opener, the resilient Bearcats reeled off three straight victories over Crescenta Valley, 10-6, Murrieta Valley, 9-3, and Glendora, averaging 7.5 runs over the four contests. Jason Plowman, who hit four home runs in the tournament and pitched the Bearcats to their first victory of the season, was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

“I’m real proud of our kids, especially our perseverance,” Coach John Knott said, smiling broadly. “Glendora stole some of the momentum and came back and tied the game up, but you know what, our kids pulled together, stayed strong and kept putting the pressure on, scratching out runs in almost every single inning.”

Down 1-0 to Glendora in the bottom of the first, Bonita right fielder Corey Hare struck a two-run home down the left field line with Ryan Henley aboard. Shortstop Jio Mier followed with a double and eventually scored on a two-out single by catcher Evan Highly.

Bonita’s 3-1 lead was short-lived, however, as Glendora put together a two-out rally in the third. Following a free pass to Cody Regis, clean-up hitter Kyle Layton belted a two-run homer to tie the score. The Tartans quickly loaded the bases, on a single by Jacob Smigelski and walks to both Michael Gonzales and Joe Winterburn. Smigelski scored on a passed ball before Bonita starting pitcher Calderaro ended the threat by striking out Jacob Cage.

Down 4-3, Bonita answered in the bottom of the third, despite losing two base runners on the base paths. After singling, Hare was promptly thrown out stealing second. Mier then walked and advanced to third on an errant pick-off attempt. Plowman also walked, but was quickly ensnared in the old fake-throw-to-third-and-throw-back-to-first play, which Plowman himself has executed many times as a pitcher. He just happened to be on the wrong end this time. Glendora almost got out of the inning unscathed were it not for a misplay of their own on an infield ball hit by Highly, allowing Mier to tie the game at 4-4.

After holding Glendora scoreless in the top of the fourth, Calderaro smashed a lead-off home run off Jacob Cage who relieved Plutko.

In the fifth, Bonita handed the ball to Terry Paredez, who came in from third base position, which he had played brilliantly throughout the tournament.  Showing no ill effects from not having pitched this season, he quickly set down Glendora in order.

Bonita went back to work in the bottom half. Plowman launched a one-out homer, and Bonita quickly loaded the bases themselves on a Glendora error and back-to-back singles by Jeff Gelalich and Paredez. After Highly scored on a balk, Gelalich and Paredez moved up to second and third, with Gelalich coming home on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Greg Victoria, making the score, 8-4.

That completed the scoring for Bonita, and that’s when Paredez really went to work. He didn’t allow a runner over the next two innings and was perfect on the night, showing one more dimension of his all-around game as well as the overall breadth and depth of the Bearcat line-up.

“It was a little nerve-racking because I hadn’t been out there much this year yet,” said Paredez, who is no newcomer to pressure having played quarterback for Bonita in the fall. “But when I came out, I just tried to relax and do what I could for our team to help us win.”

Calling pitches again this season for the Bearcats is Mitch Newell. “I may be calling the pitches, but our guys are executing,” Newell said. “We’re just trying to get ahead in the count and then make them hit our pitch. The guys are performing, and I think we have good momentum going into our league. We played four quality teams. We were really tested early, and I think we passed that test obviously.

“If the guys come out and compete every day, we should have a successful season.”

The season continues this Tuesday as Bonita faces its cross-town rival San Dimas in a night-time showdown.

Bonita's play was definitely sharper than this photo capturing the Bearcats moments after their winning the Glendora Tournament championship on Saturday, March 14, at Henderson Field in Glendora.