Michael Ryan homered and went 3-for-4 batting, and Brian Scott
pitched a complete-game five-hitter as Westmont beat Live Oak 5-1
in a pivotal Mount Hamilton Division showdown at Sarich Field
MORGAN HILL — The Live Oak Acorns’ fourth straight loss came on the afternoon their impressive run of Mount Hamilton Division titles ended. The air was still, and the Sarich Field grandstand was scarcely filled, save for a sizable band of visiting Westmont fans.
AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” played on the loudspeaker just before the Acorns were retired in order in the seventh inning Wednesday, clinching a 5-1 defeat to Westmont — and their worst losing streak in more than half a decade.
Across town, Santa Teresa beat Sobrato 4-0 to secure the division championship Live Oak won the past two seasons.
“Something’s just off about them right now,” one Warriors fan whispered to another. “Live Oak is a great program, but they’re just struggling right now.”
The timing could not have been worse. In one week, Live Oak (15-12 overall, 8-10 league) has fallen from second place to fifth in the Mount Hamilton Division standings with three daunting games left. If the season ended today, the reigning Division III section champions would be in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in 18 years.
“It’s frustrating. It’s disappointing,” Live Oak 23rd-year coach Mark Cummins said. “But we still have three games left. We need to keep our heads up and finish strong. We’ve got to find our way into the playoffs. The season isn’t over by any means.”
In order to clinch one of the division’s three remaining automatic berths, the Acorns almost have to win out. They will face second-place Leigh on Tuesday, third-place Sobrato on Thursday and Branham in a makeup game next Friday.
“We’re pretty behind in the standings right now, so we’re going to have to pick it up next week,” said senior Cody Casino, who was 2-for-3 batting. “I know we can do this. Our spirit is missing right now. People need to believe we can do it. We have to come together like we were in the beginning of the year.”
While the Acorns have slumped, Westmont (15-11, 9-9) has surged as of late, winning seven of its last eight to move into a tie for third with Sobrato. The Warriors started league play 3-8.
“The kids stayed focused even in the down times,” Westmont coach Tony Pianto said. “They got here through hard work and dedication. There were times even I was a little down, but they stayed with it.
“There’s no advice I could give Live Oak. They’re a great program with a great coach, and they’re sure to bounce back.”
Along with swagger and spark, the Acorns were missing their dependable offense Wednesday. They struggled against Westmont’s Brian Scott (4-2), who retired his final nine batters — collecting five of his six strikeouts in the process — to garnish a complete-game five-hitter. The junior showed great command of the outside corner.
“He’s a workhorse,” Pianto added. “It takes him a while to find his groove, which you saw today. But once he does, he’s consistent.”
Casino scored on Alika Bantilan’s two-out bloop single to left in the third inning. Live Oak had runners at the corners in the fourth, but Scott got Gabriel Mancias to ground out, retiring the side.
“You have to give (Scott) a lot of credit. He really competed today,” Cummins said. “He was hitting his spots and did a good job. He frustrated us. We couldn’t get that big hit we needed.”
The Warriors got one in the second inning with Michael Ryan’s 340-foot solo shot to left off Alika Bantilan (1-3). Ryan added an RBI single in the seventh; part of a 3-for-4 afternoon. Jason Brady and Cannon Bernarding singled twice for Westmont, which totaled a dozen hits.
T.C. Fairfield drove home Brady in the third to make it 2-0, and the Warriors pushed ahead with RBI singles by Casey Thompson and Brady in the fifth and sixth.
“They were hitting the ball, and we weren’t,” said relief pitcher J.P. Howard, who came in for Bantilan midway through the third. “We need some better at-bats. We’re not getting behind each other like we should. We really need to pick it up. It isn’t time to panic, but it’s time to be more urgent.”
Westmont became the third team to win 2 of 3 against the Acorns this season, joining Leland and Santa Teresa.
“That’s how the league is: It’s back and forth,” Cummins said. “Hopefully, it turns around for us.”
