Aragon steals an Ocean victory

SAN MATEO – Aragon's execution wasn't perfect, but in that moment – with runners on first and third and two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning of a 1-1 game – it was better than Terra Nova's.

With Alex Gosselin on first base, he broke for second base. Tigers catcher Joey Donati threw back to pitcher Giovanni DeFilippis, conceding second base, but Gosselin stopped midway to second, and got himself into a rundown.

DeFilippis ran at the runner and threw to first baseman Trevor Snead, causing Gosselin to take off for second. Just as he did, James Wright broke for home and Snead's throw was off target and skipped past Donati, allowing the go-ahead run to score.

"That was not the way it was supposed to go, but it worked for us," said Aragon coach John Rally. "It had its intended effect, but it wasn't executed correctly."

That's baseball. Sometimes things go as intended.

The 2-1 victory gave the Dons their biggest win of the year and puts them in the thick of the PAL-Ocean Division chase. They'll take on Sacred Heart Prep, which currently sits in first place, in a crucial series next week.

At this point, it's hard to count out the Dons, who play with a lot of heart and enthusiasm. And they have enough talent to stay in most of the games they play. They showed that on Thursday by playing errorless baseball and getting a complete game from Gosselin, who went didn't walk a batter and went to three balls just three times.

"That's been a theme all year," Gosselin said. "We've been a really good team when it comes to fighting. We've gone to extra innings a lot. We know the situations. We have grit and we fight through those. I like that. It motivates me when I'm pitching."

Gosselin also got a lift from centerfielder Nick Mazzola, who made two big plays behind him. In the first inning, Mazzola went to the wall in right-center field to track down Evan Wilson's long bid at extra bases.

An inning later, with runners on first and third, Mazzola went into left-center field to make a diving two-out catch of Isaac Roman's line drive.

Gosselin scattered seven hits. His only blemish came in top of the sixth inning when Donati singled but was thrown out trying to steal second base. Aiden James followed with a bloop single to right and moved to second on a wild pitch. He scored on Jesse Martinez' single through the right side of the infield.

Kai Thornton led off the sixth with a walk. After a Xavier Ruiz sacrifice bunt, Wright walked to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Gosselin hit one-hopper to the right of second that bounded off Spencer Speidel's knee and into right field, allowing Thornton to tie the game, 1-1, and eventually set up the first-and-third situation that decided the game.

W: Gosselin | L: James | 2 hits- Donati (TN), Derby (TN).

Woodside 7, Mills 6

Mills put up a fight by outhitting the Wildcats, 10-6, but in the end, it was Woodside that prevailed in the one-run game.

Anderson Comfort, Cruz Torres and Mateus Mokhtarani had two hits each for the Wildcats, who notched their 10th victory of the season. One of Mokhtarani's hits was a home run.

Nick Lafon had his second straight four-hit game for the Vikings, while Ethan Wong had two hits and two RBI.

W: Enochs | L: Chan | 4 hits- Lafon (M). 2 hits- Wong (M), Comfort (W), Mokhtarani (W), Torres (W). 2 RBI- Wong (M), Mokhtarani (W). HR- Mokhtarani (W). 2B- Wong (M), Lafon (M), Tinson (W).

San Mateo 2, South San Francisco 1

Jesus Olivas went the distance by scattering five hits and striking out six to outduel Emelio Oseguera in a battle of two of the Ocean Division's most underrated pitchers.

In the end, Olivas had enough to keep the Warriors in check and keep the Bearcats in the thick of the Ocean Division race.

Tyce Copus had a double and scored two runs for the Bearcats, who scored single runs in the first and fifth innings. Adam Keith had two hits for the Warriors.

San Mateo will travel to El Camino on Saturday before taking on Woodside in a Ocean Division series next week. South City will face Half Moon Bay in a series that will reunite two teams from the now-defunct North Peninsula League.

W: Olivas | L: Oseguera | 2 hits- Keith. 2B- Copus.