SELMA – The Selma Bears didn’t imagine their season ending this way. With dreams of a fourth section championship floating around in their heads, the Bears instead endured a nightmare of a game in the opening round of the 2025 Central Section D III playoffs.
The No. 2 seed Selma played baffled and confused as they were charged with eight errors in the 7-2 loss to No. 15 seed Hoover (Fresno) at Bobby Cox Field at Allen Cropsey Stadium on May 16. For Selma, this game proved to be a near carbon copy of their first round exit last season. Almost one year ago, the Bears were eliminated after committing seven errors against Monache.
Selma’s calamity of errors opened the door for the Patriots to take advantage and never look back. Three of the Bear’s errors allowed Hoover to capitalize on a four run sixth inning to open up a 4-0 lead. And when the Patriots tacked on an additional 3 more runs in the final inning, the dream officially came to an end for Selma.
Senior Noah Garcia-Ortega was the hard luck losing pitcher for the Bears, allowing four runs on five hits in six innings.
And on offense, the Bears’ were held in check by a pitcher who is somewhat familiar to Selma baseball fans. Hoover’s Logan Cunningham, who pitched for the Selma Babe Ruth Champion Yankees the last two seasons, scattered 7 hits and allowed just 2 runs in six efficient innings.
Selma’s Jacob Hernandez drove in the Bears’ first run in the bottom of the sixth with a triple to left center, scoring Jovani Tovar.
According to Selma head coach John Hollett, Jr., Cunningham’s experience wasn’t the difference-maker in the game.
With the game spiraling out of control for the Bears, one play summed up their nightmare and heightened their frustration.
Selma’s Braden Francis and Hoover’s Alex Marvez were ejected from the game on the final play of the third inning. Both first basemen were ejected after Francis objected to Marvez stomping on the bag after hustling down the line. Once that happened, Francis and Marvez exchanged some words and then a slight scuffle ensued.
With Selma’s dream of another section championship extinguished, the Bears finished 17-9 overall and 6-2 in the Tri-County-Sequoia Conference (TCSC).
