Billy Birrell doubled home Shea Adams in the first, and Tim
Andrade scored on an overthrow after a dropped third strike in the
second
CAMPBELL — Sobrato baseball coach Ulises “Shorty” Gutierrez’s mantra that “two-out knocks win ball games” became the backdrop of the Bulldogs’ latest big victory.
Down to its last out in the first and second innings, Sobrato scored a pair of clutch runs to edge Westmont 2-1 Tuesday in a Mount Hamilton Division game in Campbell.
Billy Birrell doubled home Shea Adams in the first, and Tim Andrade scored on an overthrow after a dropped third strike in the second. Andrade got on base with a two-out single, then stole second base.
“We got rewarded for our hustle and heads-up play,” Gutierrez said. “We preach the important of two-out knocks before every game. It paid off.”
Junior pitcher Ryan Williams struck out five in a complete-game nine-hitter for Sobrato (3-5 overall, 2-3 league), which strung together wins for the first time this season.
“We got back into the thick of things. So this win was huge,” Gutierrez added. “If we lose that game, there would have been pretty good separation between the top and bottom in league.”
Birrell was 3-for-3 batting, and Adams and Chris Bradley went 2 for 3 with Adams doubling.
“Billy really stood out today,” Gutierrez said. “The key was clutch hitting.”
Westmont (6-5, 2-3) scored its only run in the second inning on T.C. Fairfield’s RBI single that brought in Jesse Sanderfer. Both players finished 2 for 3.
Williams (2-0) won a pitchers’ dual with Charlie Chapman (2-1), who also went the distance, surrendering seven hits.
The Bulldogs can win the three-game season series with the Warriors on Thursday, when they play at 3:30 p.m. at Sobrato High School.
