Division III: Plucky Menlo wins 3-1 with unearned runs
SALINAS — Season-ending losses do not get any tougher.
The Live Oak Acorns went into Saturday’s Central Coast Section quarterfinal at breezy Hartnell College knowing they had to play perfect baseball to upset Menlo, the No. 3 seed in the Division III tournament.
The box score agreed. Sophomore lefty Jakob Conlan held the powerful Knights — ranked 11th in the county by the San Jose Mercury News — to two hits and no earned runs, but Menlo made the No. 6 Acorns pay dearly for mistakes. Live Oak committed three errors, and the Knights capitalized off each to win 3-1.
The West Bay Athletic League co-champions squeezed across two runs in the first inning by way of a passed ball and two fielding miscues, then scored off another error with two outs in the fifth.
“Menlo did not hit a hard ball all game,” Acorns manager Mark Cummins said in an e-mail. “As always, we battled to the end.”
Senior Ken Hall followed up a grand slam hit in Wednesday’s first-round win over San Lorenzo Valley with a two-out RBI double to left-center field in the sixth, scoring Cody Van Aken from first base.
Down to its final out, Live Oak had a chance to score again in the seventh after freshman Sean Silveira doubled to left. Michael Schreiber came up next and smoked a line drive that was caught on a dive in right field to end the game.
Though a disheartening loss, the final game did justice to a thrilling season for the Acorns (17-12). They bounced back from a rough first half to win 11 of 14 down the stretch and tie for third place in the Mount Hamilton Division.
Live Oak has made the playoffs in 17 of the last 18 seasons — the one miss being a year ago.
“Our six seniors did a great job of showing the underclassman the dedication and work ethic it takes to be successful,” said Cummins, who will have back as many as 14 varsity veterans for his 25th season at Live Oak High School. “The groundwork has been laid for a big season next year with the returning players.”
Conlan (4-3) struck out one and walked three in his fourth complete game of the season. Freddy Avis and Robert Wickers managed singles against him.
Jack Bruml drove in a run, and Matt Crowder drew two walks and scored twice for Menlo (23-6), winner of 12 straight. Phil Anderson was credited with the Knights’ third run.
Avis (6-3) also went the distance in brilliant fashion, striking out seven in a five-hitter.
Silveira finished 2 for 3 at the plate, and Van Aken, a junior, went 1 for 2 with a walk to end the year batting a team-best .391. Hall collected 23 RBIs, and seniors Ryan Muir and Schreiber scored 23 runs apiece to lead the Acorns.
Menlo will face No. 7 Monte Vista Christian in the semifinals Tuesday in San Jose Municipal Stadium.
