The 2026 season has come to a close as the American River College baseball team lost in the regional championship game to Feather River 19-8 on Sunday in Quincy.  After putting a thumping on the Golden Eagles in the first game yesterday, then falling 4-2 in the 2^nd game, everything was on the line Sunday morning.  The game was moved up to 10:00 am to try and beat an incoming thunderstorm.  After the Beavers failed to score in the top of the 1^st, Feather River wasted no time jumping on freshman RHP Ayden Dringenberg (Oakmont), who had thrown three innings on Friday to secure the win over Monterey Peninsula College.  The Golden Eagles got three runs in the first inning, then one in the 2^nd.  The Beavers came back with three runs in the 3^rd inning, with 2B Lance Sabatke (River City) driving in a run with a single to center.  But the ARC pitchers just couldn't keep Feather River off the board, as the Golden Eagles scored in 6 of their 8 innings at bat, with all but the 2^nd inning being multiple run innings.  After ARC closed the gap to 4-3, FRC scored 4 in the 3^rd and 2 in the 4^th to go up 10-3.  The Beavers answered back with a run thanks to an RBI double by Sabatke.  RHP Nathan Gahn (Bear Creek) held Feather River scoreless in the 5^th and the Beavers got two run in the top of the 6^th to make the score 10-6.  But Feather River just kept adding on and got the two runs back in the bottom of the 6^th.  In the 7^th ARC clawed back, scoring a pair of runs to make the score 12-8 thanks to a sacrifice fly by 3B Luke Haney (Oak Ridge) and an RBI single by SS Bryce Sabatke (River City).  The Beavers threatened in the 8^th with runners at 1^st and 2^nd with one out but 1B Jose Vega (Highlands) hit into an inning ending double play to squash the threat.  It was one of two double plays the Beavers hit into on the day.  With the game still within reach going into the bottom of the 8^th Feather River put the game away for good, scoring 7 runs to make the final score 19-8. 

The American River College baseball staff would like to thank everyone who supported the team this season and we are looking forward to January and the start of the 2027 season.  And a big congratulations to the players on the 2026 team for a fine season, and to the sophomores who will be moving on…thank you for your dedication and hard work.  Once a Beaver, always a Beaver!!