The Los Medanos College (LMC) Mustangs baseball team faced off against the College of Marin Mariners in what was their final home game of the 2024-2025 season last Thursday.
The Mustangs delivered an intense performance in front of their home crowd, narrowly securing a victory with a final score of 8-7. With this possibly being the last time the Mustangs would have home-field advantage this season, the team came out of the gate strong, dominating the first three innings.
The Mustangs’ offensive surge began in the first inning. Smith Chandler set the tone by scoring the first run of the game. Daniel Polasek followed, reaching home after Kai Smith hit a double. Building on the momentum, Kai Smith later scored after advancing on a series of plays that included a fielder’s choice involving Corbett Freeman.
Charlie Malton, who advanced to third during the sequence, was also able to make it home before the inning ended, putting the Mustangs up 4-0 by the close of the first.
The second inning saw continued pressure from the Mustangs.
During one sequence, Malton walked, Smith advanced to second, Polasek to third, and Benjamin O’Rourke scored. Shortly after, Heeryun Han hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Polasek to tag up and score, extending the Mustangs’ lead to 6-0.
Marin remained scoreless until the third inning, when they finally managed to get on the board, ending the first three innings with LMC leading 6-1.
Despite the strong early lead, the Mustangs faced a major challenge in the fifth inning. The College of Marin mounted an impressive comeback, tying the game 6-6 in a single inning.
A pivotal moment occurred when a missed strikeout call by the umpire disrupted LMC’s defense during sophomore pitcher Shaun Mante’s final home appearance. This controversial call shifted the momentum heavily in favor of the Mariners and injected tension into the rest of the game.
The Mustangs quickly regained control in the sixth inning, sparked by a clutch performance from Smith Chandler.
With his second home run of the game, Chandler brought in both himself and teammate O’Rourke, putting Los Medanos back in the lead at 8-6.
Although the Mariners pushed back between the sixth and eighth innings, they were only able to add one more run.
Sophomore pitcher Shaun Mante reflected on the momentum swings throughout the game and emphasized the team’s focus on maintaining control.
“Momentum is what we aim for in a tight game,” Mante said. “When we have it, the other team feels the pressure, and things tend to shift in our favor.”
He also noted that games like this often come down to determination.
“Marin gave us a fight. In close games, it’s all about grit and who wants it more. Even small shifts in momentum can make a big difference,” Mante added.
Los Medanos College wrapped up its home season with a strong finish, holding on for a thrilling 8-7 win. The victory boosts the Mustangs’ overall record to 26-13 as they now shift their attention to the upcoming playoffs, where they’ll face off against powerhouse Butte College in the first round.
Despite the challenge, pitcher Shaun Mante remains confident in both his and the team’s preparation.
“The best thing we’re doing to get ready is keeping our energy high,” Mante said. “Sticking to our game plan and studying the other team’s strategies is huge for us—what works, works.”
The Mustangs aim to open the playoffs with a win and build momentum as they move deeper into the postseason.
