header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
February 16
2000 - Rancho Camulos designated a National Historic Landmark [story]
Rancho Camulos


By Mason Nesbitt, Sports Information Director

With two outs, two strikes and the bases chock-full of Warriors during Sunday’s ninth inning, William Jessup’s Kawaiola Takemura sprayed a single through the right side.

Needless to say, Master’s came out on the wrong side — of a 5-4 final score at McBean Park in Lincoln and a three-game sweep.

The Mustangs once led 4-0, back in the first inning, back when Jaiden France lifted a two-strike fastball over the left field wall to bring three teammates home.

It was France’s fourth homer of the year and his first-ever grand slam. He leads the team with 27 runs batted in.

“I was trying to capitalize on the opportunity to get ahead in the game,” France said. “It’s something we’ve all been struggling to do. He threw me a middle-in fastball on 1-2, and I just reacted.”

Master’s (17-13, 10-10 in Golden State Athletic Conference) otherwise struggled to bring base runners around, a theme throughout the three-game stop in Rocklin, a suburb of Sacramento.

The Mustangs left 14 men on base Sunday and 24 in the final 16 innings of a sweep at the hands of the Golden State Athletic Conference’s first-place team.

William Jessup (29-6, 19-2) has won seven straight games and holds a five-game lead over second-place Vanguard University. Master’s trails by 8.5 games, but on Sunday, at least, it didn’t trail until the bottom of the ninth when an error, a single and an intentional walk opened the door for Takemura’s heroics.

“We just couldn’t catch a break,” said Mustang junior Preston White, the team’s leader in batting average and saves. “We had bases loaded with no outs today and didn’t get a run. … We had a bunch of line drives at people and just couldn’t catch a break.”

White took the loss despite not allowing an earned run in 3 2/3 innings of work. He took over after Eric Williams and Caleb Jaime bridged the gap from starter Nate Bonsell, who allowed three earned in 2 1/3 innings.

Ryan Bricker and Max Maitland each went 3-for-4 at the plate for TMU. France finished 2-for-3 and felt afterward that the Mustangs would bounce back quickly.

“We always do,” he said.

Connor Braun homered for William Jessup, which went deep at least once in every game of the series and which earned the highest NAIA ranking in program history in early March, moving up to seventh.

Master’s started the year at 14th after advancing to the NAIA World Series last season for the third time since 2013. Last year’s run could serve as inspiration for this year’s team.

The 2017 club began the year 15-17 before going on a tear, winning the conference tournament and advancing to Lewiston, Idaho.

This year’s rendition is in better shape at four games over .500. But the offense has sputtered at times, and the pitching has lacked consistency.

The good thing: There’s still time.

Master’s travels to the Bay Area next weekend to take on Menlo College, which currently sits a game and a half behind the Mustangs for fourth place in GSAC standings.

Three-game sets with San Diego Christian, Hope International, Vanguard University and Westmont College still await TMU. San Diego and Hope currently rest behind TMU in the standings.

“We just have to focus on getting better and not focus on results,” White said.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


WATCH NOW
LOCAL SPORTS HEADLINES
Friday, Feb 14, 2025
The Master's University women's basketball team scored the first basket of the game in the first four seconds and never looked back to defeat the Embry-Riddle Eagles 72-61 Wednesday night, Feb. 12 in Prescott, Ariz.
Friday, Feb 14, 2025
The Master's University beach volleyball team opened up the 2025 season with a pair of wins Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.
Friday, Feb 14, 2025
College of the Canyons baseball clubbed three home runs in the fifth and took a tie game into the 10th inning before eventually falling to Chaffey College in a 7-6 final score at Mike Gillespie Field on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Friday, Feb 14, 2025
College of the Canyons softball swept its non-conference doubleheader over Santa Barbara City College at Whitten field on Tuesday, Feb. 11, taking both games in five innings while running its win streak to four games.
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2025
The Master's University men's and women's golf teams began their spring season in the West Coast Classic, hosted by Lewis & Clark College at Victoria Club in Riverside Tuesday, Feb. 11. Both squads finished their respective tournaments in the middle of the pack, with the men's team finishing in sixth and the women's team finishing in fifth.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
2000 - Rancho Camulos designated a National Historic Landmark [story]
Rancho Camulos
1939 - Los Angeles premiere of John Ford's "Stagecoach"; approx. 7 seconds shot in SCV [Watch Clip]
Stagecoach movie
Since the beginning of time, art has been a unifying force, a medium through which people connect, express and envision the world in new and exciting ways.
Bill Miranda | Art, Innovation and Community
The Saugus Union School Board of Trustees regular meeting will include a discussion of practices and provide direction to superintendent and cabinet on consequences for students with "Big Behaviors."
Feb. 18: Saugus School Board to Discuss Student ‘Big Behaviors’
The California Department of Public Health reports seasonal influenza cases and activity are high in California, but it’s not too late to get the flu shot to prevent severe illness and hospitalization.
Flu Activity Remains High, But It’s Not Too Late to Get Vaccinated
Join the Valley Industry Association on Thursday, May 15 for the 2025 Workforce Development Conference to be held at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.
May 15: VIA 2025 Workforce Development Conference The Future of Work 2.0
Among several important topics, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will hear a report on the county’s implementation of the people experiencing homelessness missions at the Tuesday, Feb. 18 regular board meeting.
Feb. 18: Supervisors to Hear Homelessness Report
The Safe, Clean Water Program Watershed Area Steering Committee Santa Clara River will meet on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 1–3 p.m.
Feb. 20: Safe, Clean Water Program Watershed Area Steering Committee
The Master's University women's basketball team scored the first basket of the game in the first four seconds and never looked back to defeat the Embry-Riddle Eagles 72-61 Wednesday night, Feb. 12 in Prescott, Ariz.
Lady Mustangs beat ERAU in Arizona
The Master's University beach volleyball team opened up the 2025 season with a pair of wins Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.
Sandy ‘Stangs Open Season with Wins
Eric Clarke and Front Row Theatre have announced the premiere of the original production "Disconnect" at The MAIN in Old Town Newhall.
Feb. 21-23: Front Row Center Presents ‘Disconnect’ at The MAIN
College of the Canyons baseball clubbed three home runs in the fifth and took a tie game into the 10th inning before eventually falling to Chaffey College in a 7-6 final score at Mike Gillespie Field on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Cougars Fall in Extras vs. Chaffey
College of the Canyons softball swept its non-conference doubleheader over Santa Barbara City College at Whitten field on Tuesday, Feb. 11, taking both games in five innings while running its win streak to four games.
Canyons Sweeps Doubleheader from Santa Barbara
In response to the devastating impact of the Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger is urgently calling on local property owners with available rental units to help house displaced families.
County Seeks Rental Units for Families Displaced by Eaton Fire
U.S. Rep. George Whitesides (D-Agua Dulce) introduced his first bill in the 119th Congress on Tuesday, Feb. 11, to provide tax relief for residents in his district impacted by the Chiquita Canyon landfill.
Whitesides First Bill, Chiquita Canyon Payments Tax Relief
Princess Cruises, which has been headquartered in Valencia since 2001 has announced plans to vacate it's Santa Clarita offices and relocate to south Florida within the next three years.
Princess Cruises Officially Announces Plans to Leave Santa Clarita
1939 - Newhall Elementary School burns down; pupils rejoice [story]
Newhall school
Pets Global, Inc., the Valencia-based maker of Zignature and Fussie Cat premium dog and cat food, has donated 4,000 pounds of pet food for the Rescue Train's Saturday, Feb. 15 Mobile Pet Assistance Event.
Valencia’s Pets Global Donates Food for Rescue Train Anniversary
The SCV Eco Alliance will hold its second EcoFilm Festival at College of the Canyons, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 8.
March 8: SCV Eco Alliance Eco-Film Festival at COC
Madre Oaxacan Restaurant & Mezcaleria will host Noche Sabrosa, a social dancing event, 9:30 p.m.- midnight Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 27007 McBean Parkway, Valencia CA 91355.
Feb. 18: Noche Sabrosa Social Dancing at Madre Oaxacan Restaurant
Joann Inc. has announced it will close 500 of its 800 stores nationwide, including the Joann Fabrics and Crafts store in Santa Clarita at 26583 Carl Boyer Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
Joann Fabrics to Close 500 Stores, Including Santa Clarita Location
The American Automobile Association of Santa Clarita will host a Japan Travel Show, 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at 23770 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita CA 91355.
Feb. 20: AAA Santa Clarita Japan Travel Show
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is seeking a person of interest in the death of Menghan Zhuang, a 23-year-old student at California Institute of the Arts.
LASD Seeks Person of Interest in Murder of CalArts Student Menghan Zhuang
1999 - SCV & AV split off from 805 area code to become 661 [story]
Pacific Telephone
SCVNews.com