The Renegades jumped out to an early 7-0 lead and then cruised to their third straight victory. The win keeps BC (16-17, 10-3 WSC) half a game ahead of LA Pierce for the top spot in the Western State Conference-South standings. The 18 runs scored by the Renegades on Tuesday was six more than their previous high this season. BC had a season-high 33 batters reach base safely (17 hits, 13 walks, 3 hit by pitch). Luke Lewis led the Renegades offensive rampage, going 4 for 4 with 5 RBI. Hector Ruvalcaba and Joe Pineda had three hits apiece for BC, which scored 13 runs through the first five innings before plating five more during its final at bat. BC's Zach Williams had five walks, which is believed to be a school record for a nine-inning game.
BC starting pitcher Chris Diaz (2-3) was the beneficiary of all the offense. The sophomore right-hander from Stockdale earned the victory, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks during five innings pitched.
"We'll take the win," BC coach Tim Painton said. "It was not pretty by any means, but we did what we needed to do…I felt like the game was sloppy on both sides. They gave us a lot of free bases. We capitalized. We had a lot of two-out hits early. We got great production out of Pineda in the eight spot and Lewis in the nine spot. But we also turned around and gave them a lot of opportunities to get back in the game from the third inning on."
Nine different batters drove in at least one run for the Renegades. BC got seven RBI out the No. 9 spot in its lineup, Lewis' five and two by Isaac Ramos.
The Renegades had seven extra base hits, six doubles and an inside the park home run by Brycin Hernandez.
Leading 3-0 in the third, Hernandez hit a sinking line drive to centerfield that skipped by LA Valley's Casey Horvat all the way to fence allowing Ruvalcaba to score from third and Hernandez to speed all the way around the bases for his first homer of the year.
The Monarchs (12-20, 4-9 WSC) used eight pitchers. LA Valley starter Chasen Shaw went only 2 2/3 innings before being lifted. He took the loss, surrendering six runs on six hits and three walks.
BC's next game is Thursday afternoon (2:30 p.m.) at West LA.