The Varsity Baseball team kicked off their first game of the Concord Classic with a 6-4 extra inning win over the Antioch Panthers at Concord High School on Saturday. It pushed their record to 12-0 and advanced the Dons to play the San Leandro Pirates in the 2nd round of the tournament on Monday. Sometimes your future is so bright you gotta wear shades.
The boys were led offensively by shortstop James Stadt with 3 hits, 2 runs scored, a stolen base, and an RBI. He has put together some very strong games at the plate this year to go with his steady glove.
Third Baseman Everett Glass also had 3 hits to go with a run scored and an RBI. Everett has already played left field, second base and third base this season, so far. He is a huge part of this versatile squad.
Jake Colaco started on the hill for the Dons and pitched 3 solid innings, giving up 2 unearned runs with 2 hits and a strikeout. He left the game trailing 2-1 despite giving up no earned runs.
Reliever Branson Smith came in and pitched 5 clutch innings of 1 hit ball to take the boys into extra innings and eventually seal the victory by pitching out of a jam in the bottom of the 8th inning.
The game was tied at 2-2 after 7 frames. Second baseman Mason Zirkel came up in the top of the 8th to start the inning for the boys in blue. A runner, left fielder Ando Butner, started the extra inning on 2nd base, per rule. The Acalanes faithful knew what was coming and Coach Hornsby did not disappoint. Mason promptly laid down a nice bunt and was narrowly thrown out at first, but he did advance Ando to 3rd base to ignite the rally.
James Stadt then drilled a single to knock in Ando and gives the boys a 3-2 lead. After a groundout for the 2nd out of the inning Everett Glass came to bat and hit a ball up the middle that could not be stopped. Stadt advanced to 3rd and later scored on an errant Panther pick off throw to 1st base. Right fielder David Gonzales followed with a bunt single, centerfielder Keegan Goddard then reached on an error to plate Glass before catcher Benji O’Rourke smoked his 2nd hit of the day to left field. The missile scored Gonzo and pushed the advantage to 6-2 heading into the bottom of the 8th.
Branson got the job done on the bump in the bottom of the inning. After retiring the first two hitters he got in a little trouble before he closed the deal for the boys. The Dons walked away with a tense 6-4 win. They don’t all have to be pretty. The San Leandro Pirates are up next today in Concord. Go Dons!
