Live Oak gets three hits in 3-0 loss
SANTA CLARA — Considering its first two games were against CIF-Central Coast Section finalists from a year ago, the Live Oak baseball team’s 1-1 start is nothing to scoff at.
Fresh off their season-opening 10-4 victory over Los Altos, which reached the Division II title game in 2008, the reigning Division III champion Acorns fell 3-0 Wednesday to Valley Christian — last year’s Division I winner — in a Ted Tamone Tournament game at Santa Clara’s Washington Park.
Live Oak was held to three hits by Warriors pitcher Nate Underwood, an early signee to Long Beach State. Underwood struck out six in as many innings.
“Even though we came out on the short end of the score, we showed improvement,” Acorns coach Mark Cummins said in a postgame statement. “It was a good challenge for us to see a quality pitcher this early in the year.”
Gabriel Mancias doubled, and Connor Sutton and Cody Casino singled for Live Oak.
Acorns pitcher Rich Martinez (1-1) took the loss, surrendering three runs — each unearned — in two innings. Jeff Stine had three strikeouts in relief.
Valley Christian (3-0) scored all of its runs in the first inning. The Warriors put their first across on a throwing error with two outs and the bases loaded. They scored two more runs on a double to left.
“After the first inning, we settled down and played pretty well against a good team,” Cummins added.
Live Oak resumes tournament play at 4:30 p.m. Friday against Homestead.
