Acorns to play second-place Leigh next week
MORGAN HILL — Every team in the Mount Hamilton Division has its ace pitcher, but when it comes to wins this season, Live Oak reliever Connor Sutton is king.
The senior right-hander earned his league-leading fifth decision, working five solid innings, as the Acorns rallied past Leland 8-7 Thursday at Sarich Field.
Sutton struck out eight and surrendered four runs — one earned — on four hits. He had an RBI, stole a base and batted 3 for 4 with two runs.
The visiting Chargers scored three runs in the seventh to go ahead 6-5, but Live Oak answered with two runs in the bottom half to win it.
The Acorns (10-6 overall, 5-5 league) snapped a two-game losing streak and remained in a three-way tie for third place in the division. They’ll play a two-game series against second-place Leigh next week — and can leapfrog the Longhorns with a sweep. Live Oak and Leigh tied for the best record in the Mount Hamilton last year, with Leigh winning all three contests — the only club to do so against the Division III section champion Acorns. They will meet at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sarich Field. Game 2 is Thursday in San Jose.
Live Oak met every challenge against Leland (6-9, 4-6). The Chargers got off to a fast start, scoring three runs in the first two innings off Alika Bantilan, but the Acorns scored two in the first and one in the second. Sutton took over in the third inning, and held the Chargers scoreless until the fifth when they put one run across. Live Oak went back in front, 6-4, with three runs in the bottom half.
Michael Schreiber doubled and drove in three runs for the Acorns, and Tony Austin scored twice. Both players went 2 for 3. Bantilan finished 2 for 4.
Leland, which blanked Live Oak 1-0 Tuesday, got doubles from Trevor Dyer and Vinnie Gemette, who had two hits and two RBIs. Teammate Trevor Marino batted 2 for 3 with two runs.
