The Varsity Baseball team came from behind to score 2 runs in the top of the 7th inning and walk away with a much needed 2-1 victory in Benicia on Thursday! It improved their outstanding record to 18-2 and took the second game of a 2 game series from the Benicia Panthers.
In the late 80’s we learned from the glam metal band Poison that “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”. Fortunately the Don’s rose has Peter Thorn and he throws complete game shutouts! Well, almost. Acalanes stopper, Peter “Ruberarm” Thorn was on the hill for the boys on Thursday, making his 11th appearance of the season. Peter threw all 7 innings for the Dons and gave up no earned runs (1 unearned), with 3 hits, no walks and 5 strikeouts in a 70 pitch masterpiece. Pete was clutch when the team needed him most.
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after scratching out an unearned run. The Acalanes offense was a little snake bitten this week. Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way in baseball and you just have to fight through the temporary bad luck. The boys put runners on in every inning of the contest but could not plate a Don until their backs were completely against the wall. Players were thrown out at home on questionable calls, line drives were turned into double plays and good base stealers were thrown out on perfect throws, but they never gave up. The pitching and defense were solid all day, yet the score remained Panthers 1 Dons 0 heading into the top of the 7th inning in this gritty battle.
Centerfielder Keegan Goddard and right fielder David Gonzales were simply fantastic. They each skillfully caught several balls in the swirling Benicia winds. The Panther’s field has a nice stadium feel to it, with stadium seating and unusual sight lines. Unfortunately the infield and outfield grass were like punitive, thick US Open roughs on a cloudy Championship Sunday. The boys admirably muscled through the tough conditions to get the defensive job done with athletic plays throughout the afternoon.
The Dons headed into the top of the 7th inning down by a run. Second baseman Mason Zirkel led off with a 7 pitch walk to get the rally started. After a fouled bunt attempt David Gonzales poked a single into right field. Zirkel flew around 2nd and slid safely into 3rd as Gonzo advanced to 2nd base.
With Acalanes runners on 2nd and 3rd the Panthers brought in their 4th pitcher of the game. He struck out the next hitter, for the first out of the inning, before facing catcher Benji O’Rourke. It is said that “Big time players, make big time plays, in big time games.”, and that’s exactly what Benji did! He smoked a single past a diving second baseman to score Zirkel and Gonzales and give the Dons a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th inning!
Thorn struck out 2 Panthers in Benicia’s half of the 7th frame to end the game! It was a dramatic team victory for the Acalanes 9. Great pitching, steady defense and a relentless offensive attack put the boys back in the win column. DH Issacc Copen had a nice game with 2 loud hits, Keegan Goddard had a hit and shortstop James Stadt had a couple of walks and some nice defensive plays, as did second baseman Mason Zirkel.
The boys had their lucky dog “Herc” (short for Hercules) in tow as usual. Bow wow wow, yippy yo, yippy yay! Way to go Herc!
There is no rest in the rugged Diablo Foothill League. The Dons take on the Clayton Valley Ugly Eagles next week with a road game on Tuesday and a home game at Ken Souza Field on Thursday at 4pm. The boys play a 2 game series against Campolindo the following week to conclude the season, before the NCS Playoffs begin. Come out and see the squad compete next week. It’s about to get very interesting. Go Dons!
The boys in the dugout mean muggin’ and having fun. This special group knows how to win!
