Azusa, Calif. – Noah Blythe hit a walkoff home run in Game 3 of the California Premier Collegiate League Championship Series and the Palm Springs Power won their second consecutive CPCL Championship in thrilling fashion by winning two games Sunday afternoon at the Cougar Baseball Complex.
The Power and Waves entered the bottom of the ninth inning tied at six in the winner-take-all game three of the series. Angel Cortez (CSU Northridge) started the inning with a base hit.
Blythe (Hawaiʻi Pacific) then capped his third year with the Power by hammering a ball way over the left field wall for a walk-off 8-6 win.
The Power needed to win two games on Sunday to win the best of three CPCL series. In the day’s first ballgame Palm Springs used a comeback to keep their season alive.
Palm Springs trailed 4-2 entering the ninth. Andrew Rivas (UC Riverside) started the inning with a walk and Cody Kashimoto (St. Mary’s) followed with a single. Rivas would come around to score on a wild pitch before Aiden Taurek (St. Mary’s) pocked a ball through the left side to score Kashimoto and tie the game.
Cortez soon followed with an RBI single to give the Power a 5-4 lead.
Richie Amavizca (New Mexico Highlands) then worked a perfect ninth inning to earn the win and force a Game 3.
The Power never trailed in the series finale. Starting pitcher Bear Pinedo (Hope International) twirled five shutout innings to set the tone. Pinedo consistently worked out of trouble stranding seven Waves runners and never allowed an extra base hit.
Blythe started the scoring for Palm Springs in Game 3 with a two RBI double to center in the third inning as part of a three-run frame. Fred Buckson (Vanguard) and Kashimoto both hit solo home runs in the middle innings to extend the Power lead.
The Waves scored two runs in the eighth inning and another two in the ninth to tie the ballgame. Amavizvca entered on the mound after the tying run scored in the ninth and retired all three Waves he faced to pace the way for Blythe. Amavizca earned his second win of the day.
Blythe finished with four hits and five RBIs over the two games. Taurek was key in the first game with two hits, a run and an RBI.
Palm Springs finishes the season 35-2 and wins their tenth outright league championship in 20 seasons of playing baseball in the desert. The Power’s 2024 winning percentage of .946% is the third best in franchise history.
Baseball will return to Palm Springs Stadium in January of 2025 with the California Winter League. Further scheduling and season ticket information will be released ahead of the winter season.
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The Palm Springs Power are a summer collegiate baseball team playing all games at Palm Springs Stadium. The Power are a member of the California Premier Collegiate League and the league’s inaugural champions in 2023. Palm Springs has won nine league championships in 19 seasons of playing baseball in the desert dating to 2004.
Stay up-to-date with the Palm Springs Power at palmspringspowerbaseball.com and by following the Power on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok.
Fans can buy tickets every gameday at the stadium box office. Palm Springs Stadium is located at 1901 E Baristo Road in Palm Springs. Fans can also tune in on the Palm Springs Power Broadcast Network to watch every home game live.
For more information, visit palmspringspowerbaseball.com or call (760) 778-4487.
