 |
|
|
|
|
Rams clinch a baseball title with two big wins
By Dick Sparrer
"Turn out the lights, the party's over."
At least, it is for most of the baseball teams in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
Willow Glen turned out the lights for the rest of the teams in the league with back-to-back wins over Pioneer and Silver Creek last week. The Rams now own a four-game lead over second-place Piedmont Hills with just three games left to play.
It marks the second straight championship for Gary Rose and his Rams, who won the West Valley Division title a year ago.
Willow Glen blanked Pioneer 7-0 to open play last week, then pounded Silver Creek 18-1 to wrap up the league crown.
Hard-throwing senior right hander Bobby Hobbs blanked the Mustangs on just three hits, striking out 10 and walking just three. He struck out the side in first and the third, facing the top of the Pioneer batting order in each of the two frames.
The Mustangs threatened only twice in the game, once in the second when runners reached second and third with two outs and again in the fourth when they loaded the bags with two down. Both times Hobbs got out of trouble with infield rollers.
The Rams were having their problems scoring runs, too, but they broke the game open with a seven-run rally in the fifth. The key blow in the inning was a three-run homer by Matt Durkin.
Josh Weaver started the rally when he was hit by a pitch. He took second on a wild pitch before Gabe Candelaria reached on a fielder's choice.
Candelaria was gunned down attempting to steal, but Scott Wallberg followed with a run-scoring single to get the Rams on the scoreboard.
Luis Pacheco singled and Mike DeBono walked to load the bases. Pete Watts followed with a clutch two-run single to give the Rams a 3-0 lead.
Alvin Rideau forced Watts at second, but DeBono scored on the play. Daniel Rice walked on four pitches before Durkin blasted his three-run homer into the tennis courts behind left field.
Wallberg finished the day with two hits for the Rams, and Pacheco, Watts, Rideau, Rice and Durkin had one each.
Brian Gilbert had two hits for the Mustangs.
The Rams came back with a lopsided 18-1 win over Silver Creek two days later. Durkin tossed a three-hitter, striking out 14, to get the win.
Adam Saucedo homered and doubled to drive in two runs for the Rams. Candelaria singled and doubled to knock in two runs and Jared Jeffrey doubled and drove in four runs. DeBono, Watts and Nathan McDonald also plated two runs each.
|
|
|
|
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
