The Dons Varsity Baseball team has been infected with the Complete-Game-Bug.  Unlike most viruses, this is one you want to catch.  Prior to last Tuesday, Dons pitchers have only gone the distance once in the past 5 years (Benjy Braunstein (sr) did last year).   On Wednesday, Benjy threw the Dons’ 3^rd complete game in their last 4 games, and his 2^nd in that time span (Ethan Rowland (sr) threw the other, and Henry Souza (soph) got within one inning of doing so, as well).

The Dons faced off against a Las Lomas Knights team that had clearly had this game marked on their calendar.  They rested their best pitchers for the game and came out with intensity and were screaming loudly from the dugout and the stands.  

The Knights intensity paid off as they got to Benjy in the 1^stinning on a bloop single that scored the first run of the game.  Benjy settled down, though, and traded scoreless innings with the Knights starter until the bottom of the 3^rd, when Will Berrien (sr) led off the inning with a walk and came into score on a scorching line drive off the 3^rd baseman’s glove by Kyle White (sr).

With Benjy throwing strikes and his defense turning in some highlight film plays in the field, the score remained tied 1-1 until the 6^th… and the tension was building.  The Knights bench and fans were chirping loudly at the Dons, when White led off the inning with a surprise bunt and advanced to 2^nd on a wild throw.  Sammy Lee (jr) then gave the Dons the lead when he smoked a line drive double to left. Sammy subsequently advanced to third on a perfectly executed bunt by Luke Souza (sr).  Later, Connor McPhail (sr) drew a walk, on his second free pass of the game, and stole second.   With runners on 2^nd and 3^rd and two outs, Coach Connor Hornsby had a tough decision to make.  Freshman James Stadt, who had been called up to start at shortstop in place of an injured Dante Montgomery (sr), had played impeccable defense throughout the game.  If Connor pinch hit for Stadt, he would be out of the game.  The Dons were up 2-1, Benjy was locked in on the mound, and it felt like defense was more important than offense.

However, Hornsby decided to throw the dice and brought in Gavin Bender (soph) to pinch hit for Stadt.  Hornsby made the right call!  On a 2-1 pitch Bender drove a hard-hit single up the middle plating both Lee and McPhail.  Dons 4-Las Lomas 1.  

Down 4-1, the Las Lomas chirping came to an abrupt stop.  They managed to manufacture an unearned run in the 6^th, but that was as close as they could get, as Benjy shut them down in the 7^th, closing the game with back-to-back strike outs, and earning his 2^nd complete game in 8 days.  He finished with 5 Ks, on 84 pitches (2/3rds strikes), giving up 5 hits and 1 earned run, while walking only 1 batter.

Next week the Dons will play on Tuesday (away at Berkeley High) and Saturday (at home at 1pm v. St. Mary’s Berkeley).  If you are in town, come and support this exciting team who is on a 5-game win streak and in 1^st place in the DFAL.  If not, mark your calendar for Thursday, April 14 at home against a good Pittsburgh.