The Cupertino Courier

Sports

Marshall powers Homestead past Falcons

By Kevin Sparrer

It was a battle of three hitters, and it was Homestead's Evan Marshall who won.

Marshall went 2 for 4 at Saratoga on March 10 to lead the Mustangs to an 8-4, extra-inning victory over the Falcons in the season opener in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

One of Marshall's two hits was a long ball into the trees behind the right field wall for a two-run homer in the top of the third. Marshall drove in three runs in the win.

Homestead won the game in nine innings after being locked in a 4-4 tie at the end of the seventh. Both teams battled throughout the course of the game to keep it close. Though Homestead only held the lead twice, the Mustangs held it when it counted.

Homestead made a strong push in the top of the ninth and scored four runs to take the lead and the win from the hands of the Falcons.

Eric Taubman led off the inning with a walk, stole second base and took third on a wild pitch before Brian Labadie was hit by a pitch. Marshall came up and ripped a double, scoring Taubman and moving Labadie to third. Mitch Hurrillo went in to run for Marshall at second, and with two runners on Saratoga got the first out of the inning on a ground ball back to the pitcher.

Then it was Robert Tellez who came up big for the Mustangs with a smash off the wall in left center that drove in both Labadie and Hurrillo. Tellez advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Andrew Pardo hit a ground ball to third base. After throwing out Pardo, Saratoga was able to get out of the inning, but the damage was already done.

Anthony O'Malley had a good day at the plate with two hits in four appearances. Labadie was doubled and scored two runs. Tellez ripped a double and drove in two, and Riti Chandiok belted a double and drove in a run for the Mustangs.

Homestead's other big inning came in the top of the third when, after two quick outs, Labadie reached on an error and was driven home when Marshall sent his big fly over the right field fence.

On the mound for the Mustangs was Kevin Labadie, who threw nine innings and struck out 11 in his win.

The Mustangs are now 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the El Camino Division.

Homestead was to host Fremont on March 13 and will face Lynbrook on March 15 at home with the first pitch at 3:30 p.m.