SAN BERNARDINO — The Yucaipa baseball program came into Saturday’s game against Cajon with 25 league titles since 1980 and its familiar New York Yankee imagery.
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Yucaipa’s Andrew Zarate (#24),steals second base as Cajon’s Mason McGee (#35), leaps for the throw in a Citrus Belt League baseball game at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino, Ca., April 5, 2025. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
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Yucaipa’s Andrew Zarate (#24),steals second base as Cajon’s Mason McGee (#35), leaps for the throw in a Citrus Belt League baseball game at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino, Ca., April 5, 2025. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
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But Cajon was unfazed, rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to stun the Thunderbirds 3-2 in an important Citrus Belt League game.
The occasion was the County Clash at San Manuel Stadium.
The winning run for Cajon scored when Kaleb Koster was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh.
Cowboy fans cheered wildly when Koster got plunked, then Koster ran down to first and leaped on the bag with both feet as the celebration began.
“It was a fastball,” Koster said of the 1-0 pitch from Landyn Von Kaenel. “I didn’t want to get out of the way, so I stayed in there.”
Yucaipa left-hander Logan Pashman took a four-hitter and a 2-1 lead into seventh. But Pashman ran into immediate trouble as Zak Flinn singled to start the inning and Anthony Casares singled Flinn to third.
“I was just thinking, ‘I need to hit the ball hard,’” Flinn said. “It felt amazing (to ignite the rally). I was very excited.”
Yucaipa coach PJ Jimenez replaced Pashman with Von Kaenel, a tall right-hander. Von Kaenel walked Ozzie McGee to load the bases with nobody out but induced Jordan Salazar to hit into a force at the plate.
For a moment it appeared Yucaipa might escape the jam, but then Steve Rubio singled to left field to tie the game 2-2. That brought up Koster for the pivotal at-bat. He came through with the winning run batted in, though there was some pain involved.
“It felt good, but it hurt a little,” Koster said with a smile.
The outcome threw the CBL into a logjam at the top. Yucaipa (12-5 overall, 4-1 league) is still in first, followed by Cajon (12-3, 3-1), Citrus Valley (8-8, 3-2), and Redlands East Valley (8-8, 2-2).
Flinn said Yucaipa’s winning tradition did not intimidate the Cowboys.
“I was just thinking, ‘play baseball.’” Flinn said. “Have fun out there.”
Said Cajon coach Robert Grande, “Every four years you get a new crop of kids, and they’re not star-struck by the traditions of other schools. They play in the moment, pitch to pitch.”
Gavin Garcia pitched well for Cajon, tossing six innings and yielding six hits and two runs while striking out two and walking six. Jaeden Santos got the win in relief.
Rubio led the Cowboys with two hits and an RBI, while Koster and Jaden Carpenter each contributed a hit and an RBI.
Damian Cordero and Von Kaenel had two hits each for Yucaipa.
“We just left too many guys on base,” Jimenez said. “Our pitcher, Pashman, pitched great, but in the CBL you just can’t leave those runners on base.”
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