For 25 members of the Point Loma High School varsity baseball team, it was an evening they will never forget, three hours of their young lives that will live forever in their memories.
On April 18, they stepped through a gate along the left field foul line at Petco Park to do what few youthful players have done, playing a regulation Western League game against La Jolla on the immaculately manicured surface that is home to the San Diego Padres.
What was it like to play in the cavernous stadium?
“It was a great experience being able to pitch on that mound for a couple innings,” said junior relief pitcher Roman Paniaqua. “I had a fun time out there, wasn’t really nervous and just wanted to play the game and pitch. It’s probably the one and only time I’ll ever be able to play there.”
Just days earlier, their scheduled game on the big ballfield was postponed following rains that undoubtedly left the Padres and their army of groundskeepers uncomfortable with the vulnerability of the wet turf. But the Padres had April 18 off between series with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the game was quickly rescheduled.
The Pointers warmed up on the big ballyard’s surface with an 8-8 record (0-2 in league) while the Vikings came in at 13-4 (2-0).
“It was pretty special to get out there just to see what it’s like,” said senior third baseman Phillip Huber. “You see all these games played on TV and never realize how nice and how well taken care of those fields are. We’re honored to play on a field like we do at Dana, but that was sure special, especially under the lights.”
The game began well for the Pointers, designated as visitors and occupying the third base dugout, as they took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning then extended it to 3-1 in the sixth.
Entering the seventh and final inning, the Pointers needed only three outs to chalk up their first league win of the season. But it just wasn’t meant to be.
Head coach David Wells paraded three relief pitchers to the mound in an attempt to quell the Viking rally, but a sharp single to center field brought home the winning run with two outs for a 4-3 walk-off La Jolla win.
Before the winning hit, the Vikings closed to 3-2 when the ball went through a Pointer outfielder’s legs for the team’s only error of the game. 
A relief pitcher’s balk brought home the tying run before the game-winning hit by the only batter faced by the third reliever.
Junior Mathew Amberg had a big day at the Petco plate, as he went 3-4 and scored a run.
Freshman Anthony Hall and junior Aidan Yackly each had two hits, with Yackly scoring once.
Junior Frank Rogozienski had a hit, as did Huber and Spencer Gedestad, each of whom drove in a run.
“I was honestly a little nervous going up there (to the plate) especially with runners in scoring position,” Huber said of his run-producing hit. “I took a pretty big hack and missed, so I decided to shorten up (my swing) and try to put the ball in play and gave myself an RBI.”
On the mound, senior Cole van den Helder drew the start, going five innings, giving up three hits, one earned run, walking six and striking out six.
“I was pretty nervous warming up, but it went away when the game started,” van den Helder said. “I was very happy we got to play a night game. The lights really added to the whole experience.” While he wasn’t realIy pleased with his performance, he added, “I think I gave my team a pretty good chance to win.”
Perhaps Huber spoke for his teammates when he said, “I’m never going to forget that game. I’m never going to have that opportunity again, and I feel blessed to have played there.” Extra bases
Last Friday the Pointers rebounded to skunk Mission Bay at Dana on a complete game 1-0 shutout thrown by sophomore Mitchell Sardo for their first league win of the season. Sardo scattered four hits, walked one and struck out six.
The Petco Park game marked Gedestad’s return to action following an injury sustained when the ball, following a failed bunt attempt, struck him in the eye, fracturing a number of facial bones in addition to injuring his eye. He played with a clear protective mask strapped around his head.
The Pointers last played in Petco Park April 19, 2013 as Josh Azar threw a complete game 1-0 shutout, also against the Vikings. Catcher Chance Jimenez’s single to right field sent Cole Lemmel scampering home with the only run of the game.