May 9, 2008

Serra takes WCAL title

Throwing errors help Pads prevail in extra innings

By Vytas Mazeika / Daily News Staff Writer

Welcome to the wacky world of WCAL baseball.

Back-to-back infield singles with two outs induced throwing errors to hand Serra-San Mateo a 9-8 extra-innings victory in the championship game of the West Catholic Athletic League tournament Thursday night.

"Great championship game," said Bellarmine Prep coach Gary Cunningham, whose Bells have now lost to the Padres four times this season. "It's one people won't forget. I know I'll remember it."

Both teams combined for 15 runs in the first four innings before the game played at Schott Stadium on the Santa Clara University campus turned into a pitchers duel.

When Serra's Justin Maffei beat out a grounder to short with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, he broke a string of 10 consecutive Padres who made outs. It was Serra's first hit since the fifth, when the Padres tied the game at 8-all, and first base runner since the sixth.



Maffei was awarded second when Bellarmine-San Jose's shortstop overthrew the ball into his own dugout, and pinch-hitter Ian Tolle stepped into the batter's box. With a massive cut, he hit the ball less than 90 feet toward third base, a high chopper that sent Tolle running up the first base line.

"I was trying to hit it a little further than that," a smiling Tolle said. "But then I hit the chopper and I knew it was going to be a close play, so I just ran hard. And hopefully something good was going to happen."

The throw squirted through the first baseman, and Maffei never broke stride on his way to home plate.

"I was rounding third and I just saw the ball go by him, so I went for it," Maffei said.

The celebration turned into a mob scene as the Padres' dugout emptied and made a pile on top of Tolle on the first base line.

"Adam Zoucha kind of tackled me and the helmet was digging into my back," Tolle said. "It was fun, though."

Bellarmine actually led 6-1 after the top of the second, getting to Padres starter Ryan Allgrove early with four singles in the top of the first for three runs.

"You have to credit Bellarmine for that," Jensen said. "Ryan is a competitor, he battles and he's around the plate. Bellarmine went after it, and they were aggressive."

The Bells (18-15) scored three more times in the top of the second, with two runs crossing the plate on a two-out error from one of the night's heroes, Maffei, an outfielder forced to play third when Allgrove is on the mound. With two hits and a game-high three runs scored - including the final one - Maffei more than atoned for any mishaps on the field.

"I'm proud of him," Jensen said. "He's had good times, he's struggled at times, but he can run and he's a good athlete. ... He did the job for us, and that's what we ask of him."

Down five runs, Serra (25-6), a league co-champion with Valley Christian, did not stay behind for long, scoring four times in the bottom of the third to take a short-lived 7-6 lead.

The big rally started with a two-out error, after which Serra shortstop Tony Renda ripped a double over the left fielder that reached the wall and plated two runs, including Maffei. This brought about the first of three pitching changes from Bellarmine.

"Give credit to our guys for getting back in the game," Jensen said. "Just hanging in there and battling and battling. We just have a great group of kids, they compete and they believe they can win."

With a two-run double of their own, the Bells quickly reclaimed the lead 8-7 in the top of the fourth.

From then on, the Serra pitchers buckled down, as Allgrove battled his way through seven innings, allowing 10 hits, walking one and striking out two. Fellow hard-throwing senior Logan Scott came out of the bullpen to pitch the next two innings, allowing only an infield single and picking up the win.

Allgrove himself tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with a groundout on a hit-and-run. By then, Bellarmine had turned to its senior ace, Michael Couch, who pitched out of the bullpen the last three days. Couch dominated for 3 2/3 innings before giving way to another pitcher who was victimized by back-to-back infield singles.

"No complaints here," said Cunningham, who is retiring after the upcoming Central Coast Section playoffs. "We would've liked for it to be a little bit different, but it's not for a lack of effort."

"Gary Cunningham is one of my oldest friends and I respect him," Jensen said. "I love playing against him because it's always going to be a battle. I know that I'm going to have to do my job and work to beat him. I can't say enough about him, I'm going to miss him."

But he won't forget him, just like neither Jensen nor Cunningham will forget Thursday's wacky championship game.



E-mail Vytas Mazeika at vmazeika@dailynewsgroup.com.