Saratoga News
Sports
Hornberger tosses Saratoga to key win over Homestead
By Mike Barnhart
Pitcher Myles Hornberger gave Saratoga's baseball team exactly what it needed against Homestead last week--a win.
However, the 2-1 triumph over the visiting division leader fulfilled only half of what the Falcons needed. A sweep of their home-and-home series with the Mustangs was necessary in order to remain in contention for the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League's El Camino championship and an automatic berth into the Central Coast Section playoffs.
Hornberger pitched a complete game 3-hitter on May 1, handing the Mustangs their first loss in division play and breathing life into Saratoga's fading hopes for its first baseball championship since 1999.
Another win two days later at Homestead would have given the Falcons the season series and tiebreaker advantage over the Mustangs and moved them within one game of first place with two games to play.
Unfortunately for Saratoga, the final-week possibilities never developed. Homestead (12-1, 19-6 overall) jumped on the Falcons for five runs in the bottom of the first and clinched the El Camino title with a 13-0 rout on May 3.
But, fortunately for Saratoga (9-4, 13-8), its season still has plenty of potential entering the final El Camino series of the year. One win against Fremont this week will ensure the Falcons' best El Camino finish since 2004, but a sweep of the Firebirds may land Ray Burney's squad in the Central Coast Section play-offs.
The Falcons' final home game is slated for May 10, 3:30 p.m.
Saratoga last reached the post-season in 2000, going 1-1 in the CCS Division II tournament after taking second place in the De Anza Division. In 1999, the Falcons won the El Camino and CCS Division II championships, finishing with a 23-8-1 record.
Hornberger, whose pitching success is the biggest reason the Falcons can boast a winning record for the first time in three seasons, improved his record to 8-1 by outdueling Homestead junior Evan Marshall last week.
The hard-throwing right-hander allowed just three baserunners during the first five innings, on singles in the second and third and a walk in the fifth. No Homestead runner got past second base, however, as Hornberger recorded all five of his strikeouts during that period.
Meanwhile, Eric Bruner put Saratoga on the scoreboard first by singling home Brendan Scolari (3 for 3) in the second. Bo Nielsen jumped all over Marshall's first pitch of the fourth inning, walloping it over the center field fence for a 2-0 lead.
Homestead scored in the top of the sixth and put the potential tying run at third base, but Hornberger and the Falcons regained their composure in time to turn back the threat. Leadoff hitter Brian Labadie started Homestead's rally with his second single of the day. He went to second on a wild pitch and moved to third when Erik Taubman reached first on an infield throwing error. Taubman stole second base, putting runners at second and third with the dangerous Marshall coming up.
Marshall, whose ninth-inning home run helped Homestead win at Saratoga in the team's first meeting in March, fell behind Hornberger 0-2, but hit a wicked drive headed toward left-center field.
Saratoga shortstop Joey Avery, who could not make the previous play after gloving Taubman's ball in the hole between short and third, reacted quickly to snag the shot for the second out. Homestead clean-up hitter Alex Jones made it 2-1 with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in center field.
Hornberger got out of the sixth by getting the next batter, Kevin Labadie, to ground out to Bruner at third.
In the seventh the Falcons ace closed the Mustangs in order for the third time.
Saratoga played solid defense behind Hornberger, committing just the one error. Bruner handled four chances cleanly at third. Avery and second baseman Tommy Christian each made three plays. Center fielder Nielsen, right fielder Sean Casserly, left fielder Michael Leonardi, catcher Kevin Sieczkarek and first baseman Bennett Rothenberg all helped the afternoon go smoothly for Hornberger.
Nothing went smoothly, though, for the Falcons two days later. They committed only two errors, but Homestead banged out 13 hits and scored runs in each of the first five innings. Marshall had three hits for Homestead, falling just a double shy of the cycle. Meanwhile, the Falcons managed two singles and a double by Rothenberg against K. Labadie.
Falcons top Wilcox
A win and three losses last week dropped the Saratoga girls softball team to 7-7 for the year. The Falcons dropped Wilcox 10-4, but lost 14-1 to Fremont, 11-7 to Santa Clara and 7-0 to Aptos in a non-league game. Saratoga is 4-6 in El Camino Division play.
Nicole Gragnola doubled and singled twice to knock in two runs and scored three times to lead the Falcons past Wilcox. Lisa Ruddy was 3 for 3 with a double and four RBIs and Laura Ruddy had three hits in the win. Satomi Ishikawa had two hits and scored twice and Victoria Azzi doubled and drove in a pair of runs.
Erica Baba had a hit and scored twice, Cathryn Paolini had a hit and Lisa Brenner and Jacqueline Gragnola each scored runs.
Paolini had three hits to drive in three runs in the loss to Santa Clara.
The Falcons close out the regular season this week. After a Monday game against Los Altos, they will host Gunn on May 9, 4 p.m.
