SAN JOSE — In an up and down season for Archbishop Mitty, with memorable highs and a few lows, the Monarchs were all smiles as they left Excite Ballpark on Saturday.
They captured the Central Coast Section Division II championship with a 9-0 victory over Branham.
Mitty played superb defense, took advantage of Branham’s mistakes, and had a few big hits.
The Monarchs also got a dominant performance from senior right-hander Antonio Cabrera, who pitched a two-hitter. He finished the game with his ninth strikeout.
“All CCS our pitchers stepped up,” coach Brian Yocke said. “AC did well in the first game, gave us a great chance against Leigh. Then (Luka) Pintar going complete game against Serra and then AC coming back and going complete game here tonight.
“I am super proud of the resilience. Our pitching was kind of off and on all year, but they never stopped working. They never quit on themselves. They never quit on each other. They kept working hard for these moments so that when it mattered most they were ready to answer the call — and they did.”
Branham, which reached the final on a pinch-hit two-run homer in the seventh inning against Wilcox on Thursday, tried to keep the momentum going in the first inning Saturday.
Matt Garcia opened the game with a walk and one out later Tyler Siegel singled in the hole at shortstop. With two out, Elijah Bustamante stroked the ball into center field.
Before it could hit the ground for a run-scoring hit, Danny Scudero did what he has done so many times this season. The center fielder charged in and made a lunging catch.
“He does that every day at practice,” Cabrera said. “It’s routine for him. He’s a fast man.”
How big was a play like Scudero’s?
“It allows me to know that I can pound the strike zone, and I am confident in my defense to make plays,” Cabrera added. “This is a great group of guys. We enjoy playing with each other and for each other each and every day.”
Mitty scored all the runs it needed in the first inning. The Monarchs loaded the bases with none out and took a 1-0 lead on Matteo Blandino’s force-out to shortstop. Cabrera followed two batters later with a single to left to make it 2-0.
Two more runs in the third widened the advantage to 4-0.
The Monarchs turned the game into a rout with four runs in the sixth. Blandino, the team’s catcher, had the big hit in the frame, launching a two-run triple into the right-center-field gap.
“Crushed,” Yocke said. “He’s been doing that all year long, with runners in scoring position, especially working the opposite-field gap.
“He did a great job behind the plate for us all year long. Transitioned into that position this year. Wasn’t a catcher last year. Hasn’t caught much in the summer. We were short some guys at that position. He took the mantle and really took control of it. Really proud of him.”
In the sixth inning Saturday, Yocke gave Blandino the stop sign at second base. But the big fella’s brakes failed him and he made it to third.
“He ain’t listening to me,” Yocke said playfully. “That’s OK. As long as you’re safe, you don’t have to listen.”
Jarren Advincula had two hits and scored four runs and David Estrada walked three times and scored a run as Mitty improved to 21-10.
Siegel and Jacob Rinehart accounted for Branham’s two hits.
The Bruins finished 21-9.
Mitty will continue its season next week in the inaugural California Interscholastic Federation NorCal regionals.
Is that a good thing?
“I like the opportunity to spend another day with our guys,” Yocke said.
Source: www.mercurynews.com