The San Matean

Issue date: 5/27/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Peter Jadelrab Second baseman Sean Wilson takes a pitch in the dirt during CSM's 7- 6 victory over Consumes River.

For the third straight year the Bulldogs were ousted out of the first round of the playoffs, this time by the Consumnus River Hawks, after winning the first game of a three game set.

"It just tells you how difficult the playoffs are," said Head Coach Doug Williams. "Just getting through the first round is extremely difficult. They out-played us on Saturday."

The Bulldogs won game one 7-6 with a game winning double in the bottom of the 12 on May 9 off the bat of right fielder Bret Hart. They took an early four-run lead in game two on May 10, but it wouldn't hold up as Consumnes River doubled the Dog's run total and took game two 8-4. Later that day in game three, the Hawk's offense stayed hot and took a two-run lead in the fourth, eventually winning the game 8-1.

"It's pretty much devastating," said Hart. "You win the first game and you just can't imagine how you can come back and lose two on Saturday. And that happened twice, so it's like a nightmare reoccurring."

With the sudden death to their season, the Bulldogs now look to rebuild next year's roster. Along with Hart, the Dog's will lose three more position players in their starting line up, including shortstop Logan Freethy, designated hitter/first basemen/relief pitcher Tim Busbin, and center fielder and team captain Alex Weeks. On the pitching staff, the Bulldogs lose five veteran arms including starters Beau Witsoe, and Zac Bischoff who accepted a scholarship to UC Fresno.

"We lose a lot," said Williams. "We definitely need to reload; recruiting going well. Looking forward to next year already."

With the conference changing, it will be difficult for the Bulldogs to win an eighth conference title. The Skyline Trojans and the Cañada Colts will be out of the conference and will be replaced by the Chabot Gladiators and the West Valley Vikings.

"It's going to be a huge challenge but that's what it's good for," said Williams. "I think it will better prepare us for the postseason play, and certainly kids want to play the best competition and we'll certainly meet that."

As this season comes to a close, freshmen have a short three-month off-season before winter ball begins, while sophomores leave CSM behind.

"We had a good season," said Hart. "I think we really came together as a team, and for what we had I think we gained the most out of it. We won our conference, and Skyline and Cañada and a couple of other teams in the league were very strong this year.

"It's a disappointing way we lost. There's only one team in California able to win. So ours had to end sometime."

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