RIALTO — The higher ups at Rialto High School need to order a new paint job to update the recent accomplishments of the baseball team.
The entrance to Rialto’s field lists CIF Southern Section playoffs appearances as 2017 and 2018. Previous years are in large blue painted numbers, while those most recent numbers are in small black paint. Last year’s playoff appearance isn’t even listed.
Rialto baseball history may not be up to date, but Thursday’s drama was entertaining. The Knights scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Colton 4-3 in walk-off fashion.
Rialto (14-8) will play No. 2-seeded Colony in a second-round game of the Division 6 playoffs Tuesday. Colton finished the season with a 16-9-1 record.
Jared Diaz provided the heroics for Rialto. He came in to pitch with one out in the top of the seventh. Colton had a 3-2 lead and two runners on base. Rialto coach Julio Espinoza decided to replace starter Izzeah Zepeda, who had thrown 98 pitches.
“He (Diaz) is one of our regular starters,” Espinoza said. “We needed him in that moment.”
Diaz faced Colton shortstop Azael Hernandez, who had tripled in the top of the fifth inning to lift Colton to a 3-2 advantage. Hernandez lined out to third baseman David Rodriguez, who threw to second to complete a double play and end the inning.
“I just wanted to keep the ball low and not let the runner from second score,” said Diaz, a 5-foot-10 right-handed pitcher who will attend Riverside City College this fall.
Rialto started a rally when Zepeda and Daniel Nunez were hit by a ptch in successive plate appearances. Colton head coach Scott Mendoza replaced starting pitcher senior pitcher Roman Torrero, who had hit four batters during the game.
Reliever Jesse Ruiz got Aydin Ayala to pop out to short, but Rodriguez tied the game with a single to right. Nunez moved to third on the hit and Rodriguez took second on the first pitch without a throw.
Colton moved the infield in. It was again time for Diaz to shine.
“I just wanted to work the count and hit the ball,” Diaz said. “I just wanted the ball to fall and it did.”
The single to short center gave Rialto the victory and sent the Knights’ fans home happy.
“This team has worked very hard since last summer,” Espinoza said. “I’m really proud of our guys.”
