Walk off for Sanchez sends Yellowjackets to Round Three

Damian Sanchez wins the game on a walk-off double, Jesse Ruiz pitches a gem, and the Yellowjackets are headed for round three of the CIF playoffs

Isabella Esquivel, Pepper Bough Staff Writer • May 22, 2025

FAR Photos

The Yellowjackets celebrate their 3-2 victory over University Prep in round 2 of the CIF playoffs on May 20. They will now face Duarte High School in round 3 on May 23.

Colton, CA—The Yellowjackets are headed to round three of the CIF playoffs!

On Monday, May 19, they defeated the University Prep Jaguars 3-2 in round two. The game was a long hard fight, but the Yellowjackets ended up on top with a walkoff double by Damian Sanchez in the seventh that drove in Kyle Mejia for the winning run.

Jesse Ruiz pitched a gem of a game, allowing one run on 6 hits, 9 strikeouts and only a single walk. (FAR Photos)

The Yellowjacket top performer for the game was starting pitcher Jesse Ruiz. Ruiz pitched six innings, and only gave up one run on six hits with nine strikeouts against a single walk.

Colton came into the game well-rested after a bye in the first round of the playoffs. University Prep

Colton scored first, with Isaac Padilla knocking Mateo Barboza in for a run in the second inning. University Prep tied things up in the fourth on a fielder’s choice. Then in the sixth, Colton reclaimed the lead when Barboza hit a double to bat in Christopher Trevino.

The win couldn’t be easy, though. Jayden Castillo of University Prep hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh to tie the game up. This set the stage for Sanchez’s late game heroics.

Winning this game was special for the Yellowjackets. CHS has not won a playoff game since 2015, when they defeated Century High School in CIF round 1.

Now they are in round three.

“It’s a team effort in a way, not individual but playing as one. That’s what Colton baseball is about,” said junior Ricky Sanchez. “Win or lose through the season, we carry ourselves with pride and still have love for the game.”

The Yellowjackets will play at Duarte High School this Friday at 6:30 pm.

Donate to The Pepper Bough

$932

$1500

Contributed

Our Goal

Recently, the CHS Publications Department experienced a major theft as over $20,000 in photography equipment was stolen from our studio over Spring Break. This included all cameras. Any amount you donate will help rebuild our program. Thank you!