It was a big week for the Live Oak baseball team. After taking
care of business as expected in a 14-0 rout of Willow Glen, the
Acorns set their sights on Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt.
Hamilton Division-leading Leigh.
It was a big week for the Live Oak baseball team.
After taking care of business as expected in a 14-0 rout of Willow Glen, the Acorns set their sights on Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division-leading Leigh.
Live Oak broke a tie with two sixth-inning runs to defeat the Longhorns 5-3 and remain in second place, one game behind Leigh.
That win secured the Acorns’ 16th straight appearance in the Central Coast Section playoffs, the longest public school streak and second overall to Serra which is making its 17th consecutive appearance.
Eddie Gomez had a big offensive week for the Acorns (16-7 overall, 13-5 BVAL), collecting six hits with four RBIs.
Against Leigh (17-6, 14-4), Matthew Cummins hit a two-run first-inning homer and had a save in support of winning pitcher Blaine Sutton (5-3). The Longhorns scored one run in the first before Live Oak took the lead with two in the bottom of the inning.
Leigh scored single runs in the second and third before the Acorns tied the game at 3-all after three innings. In the LO sixth, Anthony Austin was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Stephen Smith drag bunted down the third-base line for a single and Austin advanced to third on an errant throw. Joe Forestieri walked to load the bases. Mike Devine delivered one run with a base hit, and Cameron Willis’ walk forced in the second.
“It was an intense game and I like the way we competed when the game was on the line,” Acorns’ coach Mark Cummins said. “We wanted to keep the pressure on Leigh going into the last week of the season, in this division anything can happen so we need to take care of our business.”
Steven Amaral homered and scored two runs for the Longhorns, who also got a 3 for 3 game with a double and two RBIs by Matthew Brady.
Devine reached base three times for Live Oak with two singles and a walk. He also drove in a run and scored once. Gomez was 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored.
Against Willow Glen (5-16, 3-15), the Acorns went scoreless in the first inning but scored in the next five. Live Oak finished the game with a seven-run sixth inning.
Everyone who played for the Acorns either had at least a hit or run. Gomez went 4 for 5 with three RBIs.
“We got great production up and down the lineup,” coach Cummins said.
Austin was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Cummins reached base three times and scored two runs. Tim O’Rourke and Forestieri each scored two runs. Adam Perez was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
Starter Alika Bantilan, O’Rourke and Willis combined on a four-hitter with four strikeouts.
Live Oak will try and complete a big week when it travels to Santa Teresa for a 3:30pm game today. The Saints are 12-9 overall, 12-6 in BVAL. Among their losses is a 4-3 defeat at Live Oak on March 27.
