MENIFEE – The Paloma Valley Wildcats are on a hot undefeated streak with a string of impressive wins, solidifying their reputation as this season’s Ivy League team to watch. Last week a non-league match against the Cajon Cowboys was baseball at its finest, a thrilling defensive show culminating in a 3-0 victory for the Wildcats.
Chapman Weber, a UCSD commit and a senior powerhouse for Paloma Valley, emerged as a key player, going 2 for 2 with a double and a stolen base while driving in two vital runs. Gavin Garcia added to the strengths at bat, collecting the only other hit for the Wildcats in what turned out to be a battle for both teams.
Yet, it was on the mound where the Wildcats truly roared. Jaxon Baker and Justin Allen combined forces to throw a monumental no-hitter. Baker, a recent University of Oregon commit, commanded the pitcher’s mound, striking out nine batters over six innings, laying the groundwork for an edge-of-your-seat finish. Justin Allen then took the stage in the seventh inning, striking out the side to secure a hard-fought victory.
For the Cajon Cowboys, it was their own Gavin Garcia who shone through despite the loss. He delivered a pitching spectacle of his own, keeping the Wildcats to a minimal three hits across 6.1 innings and collecting five strikeouts. However, the Cowboys’ struggle to find their rhythm at the plate underlined the night’s narrative.
The Wildcats then went on to demonstrate remarkable resilience and stellar gameplay in the Ken’s Sporting Goods non-league tournament. Their stand against the Oak Hills Bulldogs was a test of their perseverance, pushing beyond the regular innings to clinch a 2-1 victory. In their final tournament game, Paloma Valley stood strong against Summit High School, edging out a 3-2 win to go 6-0 for the season.
This series of victories set the stage for their first Ivy League bout when Paloma Valley (7-0, 1-0) faced off against the Temescal Canyon Titans (3-4, 0-1) on Friday, March 1. Armed with a flawless record and a relentless team synergy, the Wildcats dealt the Titans a 10-2 blow to kick off league action. Weber picked up the win on the mound with 10 strikeouts over 5 innings of work as Ayden Harrison went 3 for 4 to lead Paloma Valley at the plate with 3 RBIs.
The Wildcats will pick back up with league play this week against Riverside Poly and Moreno Valley.
