Prep baseball: Buchanan left stunned in Central Section title game against Centennial

Anthony Galaviz
·1 min read

Buchanan High was poised to win its eighth Central Section Division I baseball championship Saturday night at Valley Strong Ballpark in Visalia.

Just one out away from victory, the Bears saw their dreams crushed when Centennial’s Tristan Watson hammered a three-run homer for a 4-3 win.

The second-seeded Bears broke a 1-1 tie when Tyler O’Toole drove in JP Acosta in the third inning. Buchanan added a run in the fourth inning on Peyton Barsotti’s run-scoring double.

Buchanan finishes the season 22-9 including a 12-3 first-place finish in the Tri-River Athletic Conference.

The ninth-seeded Golden Hawks (19-13) were road warriors in the playoffs, winning 7-2 at Madera, 6-2 at top-seeded Bulllard and 8-1 at Redwood.

Centennial celebrates their Central Section D-1 baseball championship victory over Buchanan at Valley Strong Ballpark on Saturday, May 28, 2023.
Centennial celebrates their Central Section D-1 baseball championship victory over Buchanan at Valley Strong Ballpark on Saturday, May 28, 2023.
Buchanan pitcher Colton O’Toole throws against Centennial in their Central Section D-1 baseball championship game at Valley Strong Ballpark on Saturday, May 28, 2023.
Buchanan pitcher Colton O’Toole throws against Centennial in their Central Section D-1 baseball championship game at Valley Strong Ballpark on Saturday, May 28, 2023.
Buchanan pitcher Colton O’Toole walks off the field after giving up a go-ahead three-run home run to Centennial in the 7th inning of their Central Section D-1 baseball championship game at Valley Strong Ballpark on Saturday, May 28, 2023.
Buchanan pitcher Colton O’Toole walks off the field after giving up a go-ahead three-run home run to Centennial in the 7th inning of their Central Section D-1 baseball championship game at Valley Strong Ballpark on Saturday, May 28, 2023.
Buchanan catcher Peyton Barsotti cheers toward the dugout after hitting an RBI double against Centennial in their Central Section D-1 baseball championship game at Valley Strong Ballpark on Saturday, May 28, 2023.
Buchanan catcher Peyton Barsotti cheers toward the dugout after hitting an RBI double against Centennial in their Central Section D-1 baseball championship game at Valley Strong Ballpark on Saturday, May 28, 2023.

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