Guemarez’s Big Day, Phillips–Montoya Combo Lift Taft Past Defending State Champions Mt. San Antonio, 6–5

On the mound, right-hander C. Phillips steadied the Cougars after the early deficit. Phillips worked six innings, allowing eight hits and three runs (two earned) with three strikeouts to earn the win. He needed just 73 pitches to get through his outing, helping Taft navigate a Mt. San Antonio lineup that finished with 11 hits and four doubles. S. Montoya took over late and shut the door, tossing two scoreless innings to record the save and preserve the one-run victory, including navigating the tense final frame with the tying run in reach.

Mt. San Antonio mounted its final push in the seventh, turning a 6–3 game into a one-run contest. A. Alva lifted a sacrifice fly to bring in one run, and N. Mejia followed with an RBI single to make it 6–5. Giacone led the Mounties' offense at 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base, while R. Castro and F. Serna added extra-base hits in the loss. Starter T. Bilvado struck out five over four innings but was tagged for six earned runs on six hits and three walks.

With the comeback win, Taft showed early-season resilience on the road, responding to an early three-run deficit and then holding off a late surge in front of a crowd of 71. The Cougars combined timely hitting from the heart of the order with solid work from Phillips and Montoya on the mound, providing a template for the type of all-around effort that can carry them through the rest of the schedule.

Taft College used a four-run fourth inning and a standout performance from E. Guemarez to outlast Mt. San Antonio 6–5 in a nine-inning road win at Mazmanian Field in Walnut, Calif., on Tuesday afternoon.

The Cougars trailed 3–2 heading into the fourth before seizing control with a decisive rally. After Taft pulled within a run on an RBI double from W. Glover and tied the game on a run-scoring single by C. Rodart, Guemarez delivered the swing that proved to be the difference. The sophomore capped the inning with a two-run double, pushing Taft in front 6–3 — a lead the Cougars protected over the final six innings.

Guemarez set the tone offensively for Taft, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs, a double and a triple while also drawing a walk. Glover added a 2-for-4 day that included a double, an RBI and a stolen base as the Cougars totaled 12 hits and three extra-base knocks. Taft also showed balance and pressure on the bases, swiping three bags and stranding seven runners while making one error defensively.

Mt. San Antonio struck first, manufacturing a run in the bottom of the first when C. Mertz laid down a bunt single to drive in B. Foulds, who had reached on an error. The Mounties added single runs in the second and third and briefly led 3–0 before Taft answered. In the top of the third, the Cougars drew closer when Guemarez worked a bases-loaded walk and A. Lopez followed with a sacrifice fly to pull the game even at 2–2. Mt. San Antonio regained the lead 3–2 in the bottom half on an RBI double by J. Giacone, setting the stage for Taft's game-changing fourth.