Carpinteria is heading to the CIF baseball playoffs on a high note.
The Warriors took the rubber game of their three-game series with Santa Paula, beating the Citrus Coast League champions, 4-2, in nine innings on Friday in Santa Paula.
The win propelled Carpinteria into second place in the final league standings with a 10-8 record. The Warriors are 11-8 overall.
The game was a pitchers’ duel pitting Carpinteria freshman Gabe Martinez against Santa Paula senior ace Bryce Zavala.
The Warriors scored first in the third inning when Judah Torres and Erich Goebel managed back-to-back singles. Matt Muñoz was hit by a pitch and Talon Trumble drew a bases-loaded walk.
The Cardinals (12-4, 15-11) tied the score on a controversial play in the fifth.
The game stayed deadlocked at 1-1 through eight innings.
Carpinteria scored three runs in the ninth. Beto Martinez led off with an infield single that glanced off the pitcher. Diego Nieves followed with a well-placed sacrifice bunt that was misplayed so the runners were safe at first and second. Joaquin Ramirez reached on a fielder’s choice that loaded the bases for Gabe Martinez. He singled to left and, coupled with a Santa Paula error, drove in all three runners.
Gabe Martinez was lifted from the game and handed the ball to his big brother, Beto Martinez, who notched the save and sealed the win for Carpinteria.
“The team performed,” said coach Pat Cooney. “Gabe was poised and up for the challenge, the defense flashed the leather behind him, and the hitters did just enough against the best two pitchers that we have faced this season.”
Cooney was especially happy about the team’s play against the league champions.
“The result is great and the bump up to second place is also nice, but the best thing about the day is that we played our best game of the year against a great opponent for the second time in a row.”
Carpinteria completed a three-game win streak against Malibu and Santa Paula that vaulted it from fifth place last Thursday to second.
The Warriors will play one final game before the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs, hosting Frontier League-champion Villanova Prep at John Calderwood Field at 11 a.m.
The seniors from both teams will be recognized before the game.