The Acalanes Freshman baseball team won both games in their doubleheader versus Las Lomas High School, winning game 1 by a score of 3-1 and game 2 by a score of 1-0 in 10 innings.  The team flipped the script on what had plagued them in the last few games, errors and walked batters, in a big way. 

Brendan Miles got the start in Game 1.  He pitched a complete game, throwing only 79 pitches and giving up 1 run with 5 hits and no walks with 7Ks.  He had his usual array of pitches that kept the Las Lomas batters off balance the entire game. The defense behind him was dialed in, with only 1 error committed.  David Gonzales and Cole Gwaltney continued to play stellar defense in the outfield, with Gwaltney registering 4 outs in right field including a double play in the top of the 6^th inning.  On the offensive side, the team was able to scratch across 3 runs on 6 hits.  Cruz Lopez, Cole, Austin Wampler, David Roux, Dominic Patatucci, and Brendan each had 1 hit, with the last three also registering RBIs. 

Game 2 was a classic pitchers duel, with no runs scored by either team through 9 innings.  Jake Colaco got the start, pitching 9 innings with no runs or walks while scattering 4 hits.  He was able to execute both his fastball and changeup the entire game.  Catcher Brody Greenfield called a great game and was effective in framing pitches, particularly on the low outside part of the plate.  Jake also helped his own cause in the field, registering a game high 6 put outs including a double play off a hard-hit comebacker that he caught and threw to Wampler to double off the runner at third in the top of the 3^rd inning.  The middle infield also stepped up, with Cruz and Brady Wall each recording 5 put outs.   

Jake Megibow came in to pitch in the 10^th inning.  With one down and bases loaded, the Las Lomas hitter connected on what appeared to be a sacrifice fly to right field, but thanks to an assist from some of the Varsity players warming up down the 3^rd base line, the umpire determined that the runner tagging up from third left the base early, so Acalanes was able to end the inning with a double play.  Cole led off the bottom of the 10^th inning with a single to center field.  Next, Austin continued to get his Barry Bonds treatment, with Las Lomas electing to intentionally walk him for the 3^rd consecutive time.  After recording the 1^st out, Las Lomas also elected to walk David.  After recording another out, Brody came up to the plate with a situation every kid dreams of… bases loaded with 2 outs and the chance to win the game for the team in a walk off.  Brody fought off the first pitch, hitting a “seeing-eye single” between the pitcher and shortstop with Cole running home to score the only run of the game.  Pandemonium ensued.

Not only did the kids deliver on the field, but Kevin McCarthy also proved that he is more than a BBQ expert.  Utilizing the new sound system, Kevin kept the fans entertained with a wide array of songs, covering 80’s Rap, 90’s Rock, and even the classic song Tubthumping from one hit wonder Chumbawamba.  Looks like his job is secure for the rest of the season!

The team will play their first weekday game of the season on Monday, March 21^st on the road against Monte Vista, and then will play another double header against Las Lomas on the road on Saturday, March 26^th.