In pushing aside Pioneer, 9-0, Tuesday, they locked up one of
the Mount Hamilton Division’s three remaining automatic playoff
berths
MORGAN HILL — The Sobrato Bulldogs are rolling back to the playoffs.
In pushing aside Pioneer, 9-0, Tuesday, they locked up one of the Mount Hamilton Division’s three remaining automatic playoff berths. The Bulldogs are tied for second place with Leigh and guaranteed to finish no worse than fourth in the Blossom Valley Athletic League superclass.
“It feels gratifying,” Sobrato coach Ulises “Shorty” Gutierrez said Wednesday. “We set our goal of making the playoffs before the season and now we have a shot at taking second in this league, which is more than we expected. I think everybody is happy with the way things worked out.”
The Bulldogs (16-13 overall, 11-9 league) will wrap up the regular season Thursday against the seventh-place Live Oak Acorns, who are in desparate need of wins to keep alive their streak of 17 straight playoff appearances. The Morgan Hill rivals split their first two meetings this year.
“There’s definitely nothing to overlook,” said Gutierrez, now in his fifth year at Sobrato. “There’s added incentive because of the rivalry. Live Oak has its streak of playoff appearances. We have a chance to be spoilers; we have a big chance.”
Sobrato seized the opportunity Tuesday at its home field, scoring all of its runs in the first three innings. The Bulldogs scored three in the first, two in the second and four in the third.
Shea Adams and Chris Bradley went 2-for-3 batting and were part of eight runs combined for Sobrato, which totaled 10 hits. Adams scored three times, and Bradley collected three RBIs and two stolen bases. His brother, Bryan Bradley, drove in a run on a squeeze bunt, and Ryan Williams’ sacrifice fly added another RBI.
“Shea and Chris have been steady all season,” Gutierrez said. “Everybody got hits yesterday. We got production from top to bottom.”
Williams cruised to his seventh victory of the season, pulling even with Live Oak closer Connor Sutton for the second most in the league. Williams (7-2) jammed his hitters and showed great command of his fastball on the way to striking out seven. The junior held the Mustangs (12-13, 9-11) to five hits.
“It was probably his best outing all season long,” Gutierrez said.
Winners of four of their last five, the Bulldogs have a full head of steam going into their second straight playoff appearance. That was the case last year, when the Santa Teresa Division champions rode a nine-game winning streak into their first-ever postseason. Sobrato lost in the first round, 4-3, to North Monterey County.
“We’re more battled tested this year, playing in the Mount Hammy,” Gutierrez said. “Every game has been like a playoff game. I think we’re looking forward to going back. We’re peaking at the right time.”
NOTE: Gutierrez said he plans to start Chris Bradley (4-5) for Thursday’s 3:30 p.m. game at Live Oak. Bradley took the loss in Game 2 against the Acorns this year, but struck out 10 and gave up only five hits. He will likely face Live Oak sophomore Rich Martinez (4-4).
