Slideshow: San Gorgonio vs. Cajon baseball

SAN BERNARDINO - San Bernardino San Gorgonio coach Bill Eatinger joked before his latest baseball game that his team's 9-1 start could best be attributed to "smoke and mirrors," but the real reasons became quickly apparent against San Bernardino Cajon.

The Spartans are winning because of stellar defense, clutch hitting and a few subtle intangibles.

San Gorgonio scored all its runs in the final two innings and used a walk-off, three-run homer to stun Cajon, 6-5, Thursday at San Gorgonio High School.

Story continues below

Photos By Kurt Miller / The Press-Enterprise

San Gorgonio's Aaron Rueda (10) scores the tying run in the sixth inning as visiting Cajon's Trey Veleker awaits the throw. The play capped the first of two rallies that carried the Spartans to a 6-5 victory.

"I don't think we're as talented as last year," said Eatinger, whose team returned just one starter. "But we have something that doesn't show up in the box score: heart and desire."

San Gorgonio (10-1, 4-1 San Andreas League) trailed 2-0 in the sixth inning before mounting two separate rallies of the type that has come to typify its season.

Two runs in the sixth tied the game.

And after a three-run homer by Cajon's Aaron Brooks gave the Cowboys a three-run lead in the final inning, San Gorgonio scored four in the bottom of the seventh.

"We don't give up," said San Gorgonio senior Nick Heusterberg, whose three-run homer in the final inning won the game. "This isn't the first time this team has come back."

The Spartans began their last-inning comeback with two outs. Consecutive hits by Adam Quintana, Andy Crowley and Aaron Rueda put Heusterberg, the only returning starter, in position to end it.

As the ball sailed over the left fielder's head, Heusterberg raised a fist into the air and circled the bases as his teammates waited at home plate.

While Heusterberg's shot became the defining moment of San Gorgonio's comeback, he credited senior Patrick Moore, taking the mound on his 18th birthday, for keeping the Spartans in the game. It's a feat made more impressive considering the happenstance behind Moore's start.

Eatinger was ejected March 18 during San Gorgonio's 9-2 win over Colton, which forced him to sit out a future game. That gave him an opportunity to scout Cajon's game last week against San Bernardino. He watched as San Bernardino's pitcher stymied Cajon with offspeed pitches -- even in a losing effort. Inspired, he retuned home intent on starting his own finesse pitcher, Moore.

"Being kicked out ended up being a blessing," Eatinger said.

Moore took full advantage of the spot start.

He allowed home runs to Brooks and Justin Martinez, but escaped major trouble in the first and sixth innings. He held Cajon (9-2, 4-1) close as his offense failed to score in the early innings and continued to keep Cajon in check when San Gorgonio finally rallied.

"He pitched his (butt) off," Eatinger said.

Reach Michael Becker at 951-368-9528 or mbecker@PE.com