Dark clouds threatened yesterday
’s showdown between league rivals Live Oak and Gilroy, but they
foretold doom only for the host Mustangs as the Acorns re-claimed
first place in the Tri-County Athletic League with a 7-4 victory.
Live Oak High’s Ryan Bennett hammered a two-out, three-run double
off the leftfield fence in the top
of the sixth inning to break open a see-saw game that had been
tied at 4-4.
Dark clouds threatened yesterday’s showdown between league rivals Live Oak and Gilroy, but they foretold doom only for the host Mustangs as the Acorns re-claimed first place in the Tri-County Athletic League with a 7-4 victory.
Live Oak High’s Ryan Bennett hammered a two-out, three-run double off the leftfield fence in the top of the sixth inning to break open a see-saw game that had been tied at 4-4.
Bennett’s double scored Shaun Standridge, Doug Porras and Bryce Wilson.
Porras, pitching after an injury to starter Kyle Mosbrucker, worked a scintillating sixth and seventh innings to clinch the win. Mosbrucker, the Acorns’ ace, suffered an injury on a wild pitch in the third inning. His status was not known immediately after the game.
“He said it was just sore,” Mosbrucker’s father Jay said. “He said it felt like it did after he broke his arm when he was 12. We’ll have it looked at and go from there.”
Gilroy had taken a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning, with Mickartz and catcher Chris Hernandez scoring after Marty Sustaita’s hard-hit ball to Shayne Christman was misplayed by the Acorn third baseman for a two-base error.
But that was the last piece of offense the Mustangs were able to muster.
In relief, Porras struck out Mickartz with with no outs and men on first and second in the sixth inning, then got a grounder from Chris Hernandez that Live Oak was able to turn into a double play, leaving Gilroy’s Dominick Wilkins and Drew Andersen stranded on the basepaths.
Live Oak (16-8 overall, 10-3 in TCAL) hosts North Salinas on Monday in a make-up game that was previously rained out, then plays at Hollister (21-7 overall, 10-4 in TCAL) in its league finale on Wednesday.
That matchup will determine the league champion.
Gilroy (15-11 overall, 9-5 in TCAL) was eliminated from title contention with the loss.
