By Paul Gadbois - redbluffbaseball.com

Wednesday, April 19 - vs. Foothill

Ben Redfield pitched four shutout innings and the Spartans rallied for six runs in the fifth inning to douse Foothill, 8-3, on Wednesday at home.
Redfield remained unbeaten on the year, earning his sixth win with 5 2/3 innings pitched. He gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Simon Villalvazo slammed the door, retiring the final batter of the sixth inning and striking out the side in the seventh.
Red Bluff took a 2-0 lead in the third as Cody Gappa and Stephen Collins, the No. 8 and 9 hitters, connected for back-to-back singles to start a rally. Daniel Zelwick nailed a RBI single to put the Spartans on the board, advancing Collins to third, and Collins scored on a double steal.
Gappa and Collins ignited the offense again in the fifth after Foothill tied the game. Gappa singled and Collins reached on an error. Zelwick produced again out of the leadoff spot with a run-scoring single, and Josh Penne followed with a two-run double. Sandow drove in Penne with a base hit and after stealing second, Sandow scored on Villalvazo's two-bagger. Chris Jones, running for Villalvazo, also crossed to give Red Bluff an 8-2 advantage. He moved to second when Lance Zazueta was hit by a pitch, both runners advanced on a passed ball and Jones scored on a groundout by Redfield.
The Cougars tacked on a run in the sixth but didn't threaten again with Villalvazo on the mound. Red Bluff nearly extended its lead in the bottom of the sixth, but a double play followed by a good relay from outfield-shortstop-catcher cut down a run at the plate.
The Spartans (6-2 EAL, 16-3) can take sole possession of second place in the EAL with another victory over Foothill. They play again Friday in Palo Cedro.

Foothill 000 201 0 — 3 5 1
Red Bluff 002 060 x — 8 10 1

RED BLUFF IP H R ER BB SO
Redfield (W, 6-0) 5.2 5 3 2 3 5
Villalvazo 1.1 0 0 0 0 3

Top hitters:
Zelwick 2X4, 2 SB, 2 RBI, R; Penne 1X3, 2B, 2 RBI, R; Sandow 2X3, RBI, R; Villalvazo 2X4, 2B, RBI, R; Gappa 2X3, 2 R; Collins 1X2, SB, 2 R