Falcons Finish Strong, Clinch Spot in Super Regionals
The Folsom Lake Falcons left no doubt at the regional playoff hosted at Chabot College, stringing together a dominant three-game stretch to advance to the Super Regionals. Behind clutch pitching, timely hitting, and late-game composure, the Falcons improved to 30-13 and outlasted both Cosumnes River and host Chabot in a gritty postseason showing.
The series opened on May 1 with a classic pitcher's duel against Cosumnes River. Folsom Lake edged out a 2-0 victory despite being outhit 7-5. Starter Gavin McLendon set the tone, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, while Andrew Balentine slammed the door with 3.1 shutout innings and eight strikeouts in relief.
The Falcons broke through in the fifth inning when Trajan Rogowski delivered an RBI single to score Asa Martinez. An insurance run came in the eighth on a Connor Barth sacrifice fly, scoring Dylan Green. The combination of dominant pitching and opportunistic offense proved enough to secure the shutout win.
Folsom Lake carried that momentum into May 2 against host Chabot, grinding out a 2-1 victory in another tightly contested matchup. Jake McKowen delivered a workhorse performance on the mound, going 8.1 innings while allowing just one run on eight hits.
The Falcons struck first in the fourth inning on an RBI single from George Shykowski. After Chabot tied the game in the seventh, Dylan Green responded in a big way, launching a solo home run in the eighth to reclaim the lead. Balentine once again closed things out, earning his second save of the series and preserving the one-run victory.
Later that day, Folsom Lake faced Cosumnes River again and showcased its offensive firepower in a 9-5 win to cap the regional run. The Falcons erupted early with a three-run first inning and never trailed.
Dylan Green led the charge, going 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs. Connor Barth delivered a huge performance as well, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs. Shane Saunders added a home run, while Trajan Rogowski chipped in two hits and two runs scored.
On the mound, Keisen Hayden earned the win with six strong innings, allowing just one run. Despite a brief rally from Cosumnes River in the seventh, reliever AJ Cox stabilized things late, finishing the final 2.1 innings to secure the victory.
Across the three games, the Falcons leaned on a dominant bullpen—particularly Balentine, who recorded two saves and struck out nine batters in just four innings of work. Offensively, timely hitting from Green and Barth proved to be the difference-makers in critical moments.
With the regional title secured, Folsom Lake now turns its attention to the Super Regionals, carrying both confidence and momentum after a complete team performance in Hayward.