Jun 24, 2008

Dynamic duo ponies up

San Carlos gets key contributions at plate, on mound

By Julio Lara / Daily News Correspondent

There was a certain buzz going around Burlingame Monday afternoon.

The whispers and chitchat revolved San Carlos' James Beekley.

Two days ago, big No. 19 put on an offensive show for the ages, going 4-for-4 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in a must-win situation for San Carlos. Monday in the Burlingame Invitational Championship game, many had come for some more Beekley heroics.

Beekley didn't disappoint, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including the game-winner as San Carlos avenged an earlier loss to San Mateo by winning 3-2 in Monday's championship game of the Burlingame Invitational 14-under tournament.

While Beekley didn't go deep Monday afternoon, his two hits drove in two of his team's three runs, and he capped off a stretch at the plate dating back to June 20 where he has gone 11-for-17 and 9-for-his-last-12.

"I don't know," Beekley said of his hot streak at the dish. "I have never had anything like this happen to me before.The last three games I've been doing great."

The tournament, made up primarily of Pony-Colt League teams, might have belonged to Beekley, but the spotlight of the championship game shined on Ryan Strombom, the San Carlos starting pitcher who went the distance Monday, allowing two runs and striking out seven in the process.

"I expected to start," Strombom said, "but not to pitch the complete game. It feels good."

Strombom was marvelous on the mound for San Carlos. While at times he got himself into trouble, Strombom bent but never broke. Though he admits the victory didn't come easy.

"Their lineup is loaded," Strombom said. "Their middle of the order .... it's tough to pitch around them."

His teammates spotted their starter the lead in the top of the third inning. It was then that San Carlos got back-to-back-to-back singles off San Mateo starter Christian Larsen, all with two outs. The third single belonged to Beekley, and an error by the San Mateo shortstop brought in the second run.

Strombom got himself into trouble to start the fourth. With one out, he walked two straight and Antonio Freschet followed with a single. San Mateo didn't score on the hit, but when Sho Sato worked the third walk of the inning, Alex Tan came across to score.

San Mateo struck again to start the bottom half of the fifth, as Cody Barden singled before taking scoring matters into his own ... feet. Barden stole second and then third when he caught Strombom and his third baseman napping. On a wild throw to third, Barden's manufacturing of San Mateo's second run was complete and the score was tied.

The tie was short-lived, though, as Colton Hicks singled to start the sixth and then proceeded to steal second, setting the table for Beekley.

Beekley delivered, singling home Hicks and returning the lead to his San Carlos squad.

"Every time I go up there, I know there is going to be someone I can drive in," Beekley said.

He wasn't exaggerating, as Hicks had himself a great couple of days as well, going 10-for-his-last-18.

With the lead once again in hand, Strombom buckled down and went to work.

He got some help from Matt Elliot to start the bottom half of the sixth when the second baseman made a great diving stop to his left to gun down the first out.

In the seventh, San Mateo didn't go down quietly. Strombom struck out the first two hitters, but gave up a triple to Barden and then walked Jian Lee to put the winning run at first. That's when Strombom got a visit from his coach.

"He said, 'No problem, we have two outs,' and to concentrate on the hitter," Strombom said.

The big right-hander did just that. He bore down and struck out Larsen looking to end the game and seal the championship for San Carlos.

"We've been hitting the ball like crazy," Strombom said.

And no one appreciates that more than the pitcher.