Chico High baseball splits EAL opener against Red Bluff

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Chico High’s Abrahan Medina, left, slides safely into home as Red Bluff catcher Carson Ledbetter (4) attempts the tag during the Eastern Athletic League matchup on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Skip McDonald Field in Chico, California. (Ben Mota, All Axis Sports/Contributed)

CHICO — Eastern Athletic League play began Thursday for the Chico High baseball team, and with tournament play concluded it appears the EAL will be closely contested. Five of six teams are above .500, and Shasta, Red Bluff, Chico and Foothill have eclipsed seven wins.

The Panthers (7-3-1) began EAL play Thursday with a doubleheader against Red Bluff (7-2) at Skip McDonald Field in Chico, under first-year head coach Brian Thomas.

Despite Chico leading early in game one, the Spartans came from behind to defeat the Panthers 4-2. In game two Chico once again led early, taking a 7-1 lead after five innings. Chico held off another late surge by Red Bluff, and defeated the Spartans 8-6 to split the EAL matchup.

  • Chico High first baseman Luke Henderson (4) lunges forward for the catch to get Red Bluff’s Jace Ledbetter (5) out at first on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Skip McDonald Field in Chico, California. (Ben Mota, All Axis Sports/Contributed)

  • Chico High third baseman Carter Miles, left, tags out Red Bluff runner Carson Hall (11) as he slides into third base during the Eastern Athletic League contest on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Skip McDonald Field in Chico, California. (Ben Mota, All Axis Sports/Contributed)

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“We just need to keep the hammer on people, and as we do that, we’ll continue to build that lead farther and farther away,” said Chico’s Jaden Neugebauer. “That’s when teams can’t come back like this, but we’re going to sharpen up and be better the next game.”

Neugebauer scored the first run for Chico in the first inning of game one, coming off an RBI single from his brother Jorden Neugebauer. Jaden Neugebauer walked in his first at bat, advanced to third on two passed balls, and scored on an RBI single to left center by Jordan Neugebauer.

The Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Abrahan Medina reached on an error, Cal Stephens singled to left field, and Jaden Neugebauer singled with two outs to score Medina as he slid head first into home plate.

Chico High catcher Cal Stephens hits a single during the Panthers’ Eastern Athletic League opener against Red Bluff on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Skip McDonald Field in Chico, California. (Ben Mota, All Axis Sports/Contributed)

The Spartans took a 3-2 lead in the third inning, and added one run in the fifth, and the Panthers’ offense remained scoreless after the second.

“Some of us got a little longer than what I’d like to see,” Thomas said. “We had a game plan going into the game of staying short and putting the ball in play. I don’t know how many times we punched out, but it was too many in this type of game.”

Red Bluff pitcher Cooper Sides — a sophomore — struck out 10 in seven innings, allowing six hits, two runs (one earned) and two walks.

The Spartans scored their first run on a wild pitch, and with two outs Ryan Ross hit an opposite field single to right center to score Lucas Owens and Landon Duarte. The Spartans’ final run came in the fifth inning on a single by Owens, a stolen base, a fielder’s choice and a wild pitch.

“The big message is it is what it is for game one,” Thomas said to his team after game one. “We have to focus on game two, and turning the day into a positive rather than dwelling on what just happened. That arm is really really good. I liked our approach for the most part at the plate. The ball doesn’t bounce our way, but we have to have a short memory and a good learning curve for our guys, and see what they do in game two.”

In game two, the Panthers’ bats re-ignited, and they were helped out by the Spartans’ defense. They took a 2-0 lead on a wild pitch, and a pair of stolen bases by Jaden Neugebauer and an error.

The Spartans cut the lead to 2-1 on an RBI single by Carson Ledbetter. Chico took a 6-1 lead on a bases-loaded walk by Medina, another bases-loaded walk by Owen Mass. Stephens was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give Chico a 5-1 lead, and Noah Meyer singled to left field to give Chico its 6-1 lead.

Jaden Neugebauer singled to right field to give Chico a 7-1 lead, but Riley Bestor was thrown out at home trying to increase the lead to 8-1.

The Panthers’ final run came on an RBI triple by Tanner Horn that scored Luke Henderson.

When Jaden Neugebauer was asked where he believes his team is at compared to where he believes they need to be, he put it at a 6 or 7 on a scale of 1-10. He said with a large group of seniors graduating last season, the communication and chemistry is still in the works.

“I feel like our at bats are more for ourselves instead of the team,” Neugebauer said. “It’s all about becoming more of a team and building culture, and we’re trying to show the younger kids who have been called up and coach them up.”

Chico has nine days off before it will travel to Sacramento for a non-league game at Twelve Bridges at 11 a.m. March 30. The Panthers will return to EAL action April 1 at 4 p.m. at Pleasant Valley, in the first of three meetings between the cross-town rivals.

Red Bluff will travel to Clovis on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for the Fresno Easter Classic at Clovis High School.

The Panthers and Spartans will meet once more at 4 p.m. April 5 in Red Bluff.

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