Walk it off, again: Roseville beats third-ranked Woodcreeek with more late-game drama

This season for the Roseville High School baseball team has been defined by walk-off hits.

In a game last week against Nevada Union, Roseville beat the Miners 5-4 on a walk-off single by Luke Aubin. Two days later in Auburn, the Tigers were on the other side of a game-winner by Placer in an 8-7 loss.

On Tuesday in Placer County, it was the Tigers’ turn. After trailing most of the game against Woodcreek, Ramon Esparza hit a deep pop-fly to right-center field that allowed Aubin to tag up and score. That gave Roseville a 5-4 win over crosstown rival and third-ranked Woodcreek to open Capital Valley Conference play.

There will be no Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs this season, so a league championship is the primary goal.

“I told my guys the whole time this is the start of league,” Roseville coach Greg Zanolli said. “if we want to win the league this is the game you want to get because it’s at home.”

He added later, ”If we can take two out of three from them, I think we are in the driver’s seat (to win league).”

Roseville (5-2) trailed 2-0 in the third and 3-1 in the fifth. Timely hits by Josh Alger and Keith Tupin and a bases-loaded walk gave Roseville a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth. With Woodcreek (3-3) down to its final strike, Zack Malone took two pitches on a 2-2 count to walk with the bases loaded and tie the game at 4-4.

Roseville freshman Austin Nye was lights out on the mound. He struck out 10 in four innings and allowed two hits and Braydon Dotoli picked up the win in relief. Malone pitched for Woodcreek and struck out eight in 5⅓ innings.

“Austin was outstanding,” Zanolli said. “He had an error behind him but other than that he didn’t give up any runs. He was outstanding for us against Placer. He’s going to be really good.”

Nye is only the second freshman the Roseville coach has called up to play at the varsity level. The other is Alger, who is now a senior on the Roseville roster. If anyone knows how Nye feels, it’s Alger.

“I have been talking to (Austin) a lot,” Alger said. “I remember being a freshman and looking up to all of the seniors. They always told me what to do so I kinda did the same thing for him. He’s going to be really good.”

Alger, bound for UCLA, has dealt with a variety of injuries during his prep career. Last year, he tore a knee ligament that knocked him out of spring and summer season. Alger will have surgery on his labrum later this week that will sideline him for the rest of his season.

The competitor in Alger wanted to play no matter what injury he was dealing with. After his surgery that was scheduled for last week was canceled, he decided to pitch one last time in a game against Placer. He struck out two and topped out at 97 mph.

“I’m a competitor and an athlete, (that’s why) I want to play,” Alger said. “(Our team) just wants to play and compete.”

He added, “It’s awesome being out here because I didn’t get to play last summer. That was tough. I tried to get better throughout the summer rehab. Now I’m ready to play.”

During the final week of his prep career, he will serve as the DH for his team. Zanolli has been impressed with how he’s been hitting the ball.

“Unfortunately (Josh) can’t pitch and that’s what he loves to do,” he said. “He’s swinging the heck out of the ball. Going into this game, he was leading the state in hitting. He’s been phenomenal for us and got another key hit against today. He’s having fun until he has his surgery and won’t be able to play anymore.”

Zanolli added, “He really likes these guys because it’s a tight-knit group. They have been together since they were freshmen. You should see him in practice, he is hitting bombs. He hit the top of the light standard yesterday in practice. It’s fun because kids were laughing and calling him ‘God’ at practice. It’s pretty fun.”

Speaking of fun, these teams will meet again Thursday and Friday this week. It will likely be more fun.