Acorns ready to defend division and section titles
MORGAN HILL — Alika Bantilan sat in the home dugout of Sarich Field on Thursday, as his teammates practiced, and fielded questions about the importance of bench players.
The Live Oak senior did not pause when asked about the sixth inning of last year’s CIF-Central Coast Section semifinal game against Menlo, when he belted a pinch-hit two-run double that catapulted the Acorns to a 5-3 victory.
Live Oak won its first section championship in baseball four days later, beating Santa Cruz 3-2 in the Division III final, and is still feeling the momentum.
“It almost felt like we knew people off the bench could help,” Bantilan recalled. “My hit was a confidence boost. We knew we were going to win that championship.
“That confidence is still here. The younger guys have seen that game. They know what they can do. They just have to come through.”
Those “younger guys” from a year ago will get their chance in 2009.
The Acorns graduated eight seniors in June, including most of their pitching staff and starting lineup. That class accounted for 74 percent of Live Oak’s runs in 2008, and 70 percent of its hits.
“We’re a lot younger. We have a lot of new guys,” said senior catcher Tony Austin, whose .327 batting average last year was best among underclassmen. “We’ve just got to come out here every day and work a little harder; come out and get after it. You can see that we’re ready to go.”
Along with their bumper crop of fresh faces, the Acorns have new strategies this spring. Live Oak coach Mark Cummins said his team will rely on “small ball,” and a large array of short-duty pitchers.
Expectations, though, remain the same: defending the team’s back-to-back Blossom Valley Athletic League-Mount Hamilton Division titles and challenging for a section championship.
“We always have high goals,” said Cummins, now in his 23rd year coaching Live Oak. “This is a new team and a new group. This is their own experience, and we want them to work hard toward something special.”
Austin, a first-team all-leaguer in 2008, is breaking in a new pitching staff headed by closer Connor Sutton (1-0), who worked 29 innings last season. Sophomore Rich Martinez is 2-1, and J.P. Howard, Jeff Stine, Ken Hall, James Araiza and Bantilan have also seen time on the hill.
“We’re going to be good,” said Sutton, a senior. “We don’t have a lot of guys with power, but we’re going to staff it and get the job done. If everyone stays focused, we should have another great season.”
Martinez will interchange with Sutton at shortstop and Stine at third base. Cody Casino, a senior, will start at second base; and Dylan Davis, Howard and Bantilan at first.
Martinez leads the team in runs with six, and Bantilan has five RBIs.
“We have to have Alika’s bat somewhere in the lineup,” Cummins said. “He gives us a lot of power.”
Bantilan hit a grand slam in his first at-bat this season, helping Live Oak (3-1 overall) win its opener, 10-4, against Los Altos.
“I see a big need for me to make an impact this year,” said Bantilan, who drove in a dozen runs in 2008. “I’m not feeling a lot of pressure, but I know I’m going to need to hit.”
The Acorns have speed in the outfield with veteran starter Gabriel Mancias in left, Michael Schreiber in center and Anthony Macadaeg — a cross-country runner — and Ryan Muir (.500) in right.
“They all have good range and are dependable,” Cummins said.
Mancias’ speed also will help the offense. The senior is batting .364 and has four stolen bases.
“We’re a smaller team, and we have four or five guys that can jab the ball out there,” Mancias said. “Small ball is a lot more fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
After a challenging nonleague slate, which included two CIF-CCS finalists from a year ago, Live Oak is scheduled to open league play at 3:30 p.m. today at Santa Teresa.
The Acorns will end the regular season with a rubber match against a familiar division newcomer: Sobrato.
“We’ll worry about Sobrato when the time comes, but it’s fun knowing there’s something to play for in Morgan Hill,” Cummins said. “You can’t overlook anyone in this league.”
Santa Teresa will be a contender this year along with Westmont, Cummins added. Branham and Santa Teresa have pitchers headed for Division I colleges.
“Everyone has an ace this year,” Cummins said. “We have an even bigger target on our backs since we won CCS and have taken this league two years in a row. The other teams in the division know we have lost a lot of players — but we might surprise some people.”
Acorns place third in tourney
Live Oak outlasted Santa Clara 15-9 in extra innings Saturday to take third place in the Ted Tamone Tournament at Washington Park.
After blowing an 8-0 lead in the fifth inning, the Acorns (3-1 overall) prevailed with seven runs in the eighth.
Tony Austin doubled and drove in two runs for Live Oak, and Cody Casino, Connor Sutton and Alika Bantilan added RBIs.
Acorns pitcher Rich Martinez picked up his second win of the season.
“After giving up a big lead, we showed a lot of character to put it behind us and put up a big number in the extra inning,” Live Oak coach Mark Cummins said in a postgame statement. “Overall, it was a good tournament for us, as we prepare for the start of league play (today).”
The Acorns rallied past Homestead 4-2 Friday with the help of three runs in the sixth inning.
Michael Schreiber, Cody Casino and Bantilan drew bases-loaded walks, and Ryan Muir singled home the go-ahead run.
Sutton picked up his first win of the year, striking out five and surrendering one hit in three innings.
Live Oak is set to open Blossom Valley Athletic League-Mount Hamilton Division play at 3:30 p.m. today at Santa Teresa, weather pending.
