SAN BERNARDINO – Nate Campos-Jaramillo is here to tell you that “5-foot-8 guys can hit.”
The recent Kaiser graduate slammed a three-run home run as San Bernardino County defeated Riverside County 12-8 in the Inland Empire Baseball Coaches Association all-star game at Fiscalini Field on Monday.
“Look at my size – I’m 5-foot-8 – but I’m showing people that 5-foot-8 guys can hit,” Campos-Jaramillo said.
Campos-Jaramillo went 2 for 2 with a home run, four RBIs and got the win in relief as San Bernardino County rallied to win the first IEBCA event held since 2019.
“I think this gets me out there in a big way,” said Campos-Jaramillo, selected as the game’s Most Valuable Player. The two-time all-Sunkist League selection is currently uncommitted.
Paloma Valley’s Wyatt Bush singled and scored to get Riverside County going in the first inning, and Temescal Canyon’s Nolan Smith bombed a two-run home run 400-plus feet into the left-field parking lot for a 3-0 lead in the third.
“It was a curve ball and I kept my hands back, and after I hit it I knew it had the distance,” Smith said. “It was a good feeling (and) right after it left the bat I knew it was going to go far.”
San Bernardino County got on the scoreboard in a big way in the fourth inning when Summit’s David Fimbres and Campos each slammed three-run homers to take a 6-3 lead.
Ramona senior Max Berber’s two-run double capped a four-run fifth to help Riverside County retake the lead, but Cajon’s Christian Leos reached on an error and scored to tie the game in the sixth before San Bernardino County busted the game open with four more runs in the seventh for an 11-7 lead.
Campos-Jaramillo then pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn the win.
“I didn’t know if I was going to pitch or hit, but I’m showing that I can so both,” Campos-Jaramillo said.
Bloomington’s Edward Rengifo singled and scored on Omar Rosas’ RBI triple in the eighth, and Summit’s Yahir Sotomayor pitched the eighth and Grand Terrace’s Jerry Granado pitched the ninth in the win.
Redlands East Valley’s Chase Dabbs got the start for San Bernardino County and struck out two over two innings. He also walked twice, stole a base and scored a run.
Murrieta Mesa’s Colby Moran went 2 for 3 with a triple, a double, two runs and an RBI for Riverside County.
