Padres 'stack' another victory

PACIFICA – A WCAL championship is likely a longshot after an early-season slump that put the Serra Padres in a hole. from the outset. But no one is concerned with that.

Nor are they concerned with the upcoming Central Coast Section selection meeting, which will take care of itself.

"We're not worried about the WCAL championship, the CCS, or any of that," said senior shortstop Nate Hui, who singled, homered and drove in three runs in an 8-5 victory over St. Ignatius Prep at Fairmont Park. "It's just whether we can keep stacking days, whether it's practice, winning games or winning each day. That's a big thing for us, just winning each day, making sure we're being intentional during practice, and during games."

The Padres are stacking wins. That's four straight WCAL wins, which puts them over .500 for the first time in league play. They're surging after beating a longtime rival and feel good going into Friday's series finale with the Wildcats in San Mateo.

"I thought today, one through nine in our order, everybody found a way to contribute to the game," said Serra coach Mat Keplinger.

St. Ignatius Prep scored a run in the second inning before Serra answered with two in the top of the third. The Padres then broke open the game with four runs in a fourth inning that saw the Wildcats use three pitchers.

Jack Wessell led off with a single and Michael Ohman followed by lining on off Chase Gordon's ankle. The southpaw pitcher scrambled to the third-base side of the mound but his throw to first was wild and ended up down the right-field line, allowing Wessell to score.

Aaron Minton then dragged a bunt down the third-base line. Gordon fielded it and as he was throwing to first, he lost his footing. Again, the throw went into right field. A walk to William Walbridge set up Nick Moore's pinch-hit single that scored another run.

Ayden Beal plated the final run of the inning with a double into the left-centerfield gap that made it 6-1.

Gordon's two-run homer in fourth off Riley Lim made it 6-3, but Hui's two-run homer in the top of the sixth made it 8-3 and was enough of a rally to stave off a seventh-inning two-out rally by the Wildcats.

"Look who we play going down the stretch," said St. Ignatius Prep coach Brian Pollzzie. "... All these games are, like playoff games, but, I mean, it's a resiliency test, like it is every year. You're going to get gut punched. You're going to get punched in the mouth. How do you how do you bounce back? That's kind of where we're at."

Gordon is fine after taking the line drive off his ankle, but Tycco Giametti lasted just four hitters after leaving the game with forearm discomfort.

W: Lim | L: Gordon | 2 hits- J.Callen (SI), Delaney (SI), Gordon (SI), Hui (S), Peavey (S), Wessell (S). 3 RBI- Hui (S), Gordon (SI). 2 RBI- Beal (S). HR- Gordon (SI), Hui (S). 2B- Wineinger (SI), Gordon (SI), Beal (S).

Valley Christian 5, Riordan 0

Gabe Felix allowed one hit and struck out 10 in tossing the shutout.

Christian Nevarez had two hits, while Nathan Miller had a two-run double for the Warriors, who will host Riordan on Friday.

W: Felix | L: Tuman | 2 hits- Nevarez (VC). 2 RBI- Miller (VC). 2B- Miller (VC).

Bellarmine 4, Mitty 3, 9 innings

The Bells broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the ninth and walked off with a win after Arleigh Souza's bases-loaded double.

Vincent Kim was the offensive catalyst for Bellarmine, pounding out three hits, including two home runs, and driving in two runs. He also picked up the victory in relief.

His solo in the bottom of the seventh tied the game at 3 and sent the game into extra innings.

Isaiah Beyah had two hits, while Felix Chang led Mitty with two hits.

The same two teams will play Friday at Mitty.

W: Kim | L: Kim | 3 hits- Kim (M). 2 hits- Beyah (B), Chang (M). 2 RBI- Kim (B). HR- Kim (B) 2. 2B- Souza (B), Arnott (B).

Saint Francis 11, Sacred Heart Cathedral 1

Tanner Wall had three hits, including a triple and a grand-slam, and drove in seven runs as Saint Francis made short work of Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Gino Cappellazzo added a home run and two RBI, while Landon King had three hits for the Lancers, who had 12 hits.

That was more than enough offense for Brody Larocque, who threw four innings to pick up the victory.

W: Larocque | L: Vigil | 3 hits- King (SF), Wall (SF). 7 RBI- Wall (RBI). 2 RBI- Cappellazzo (SF). HR- Cappellazzo (SF), Wall (SF). 3B- King (SF), Wall (SF). 2B- Butler (SF), Deninger (SHC).

Mills 6, Aragon 3

Saxon Lucia had two hits, while Keith Matye drove in two runs for the Dons, who snapped an Ocean Division losing streak with the victory.

Mayte had a triple, while Nick Mazzola had a double.

Junior Joshua Huei had three hits for the Vikings.

W: Nagao | L: Wong | 3 hits- Huei (M). 2 hits- Lucia (A). 2 RBI- Mayte (A). 3B- Mayte (A). 2B- Mazzola (A).

Sacred Heart Prep 1, San Mateo 0, 11 innings

Neither Rallin Covey nor Christian Louie were involved in the decision, but the two seniors put together the season's top pitching duel on the Peninsula this season. That it came in a game between the two leaders in the PAL-Ocean Division only made it more dramatic.

Louie went eight innings, allowing no runs or hits and striking out 11 with four walks, while Covey went 8 2/3 scoreless innings. He was dinged for two hits and two walks but struck out 12.

In the end, it was a Thomas Barton single that scored Drew Parker, who led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a double off Tyce Copus. He advanced to third on a wild pitch.

Chase Affrunti pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief to pick up the win as the Gators won their 11th straight game, the longest current streak on the Peninsula.

W: Affrunti | L: Copus | 2 hits- Su (SM). 2B- Parker (SHP)

Half Moon Bay 6, Woodside 2

Senior Kai Kung allowed a run and four hits over five innings of work. He struck out four in picking up the win for the Cougars.

Paxton Holden and Jacob Couto had two hits each for Half Moon Bay, which will closer out the series against visiting Woodside on Thursday before taking on Sequoia at Oracle Park on Friday.

W: Kung | L: Ball | 2 hits- Comfort (W), Mokhtarini (W), Holden (HMB), Couto (HMB). 2B- Taylor (W), Jackson (HMB), C.Giannini (HMB).

Terra Nova 3, South San Francisco 2

Jesse Martinez threw a complete-game victory for the Tigers, allowing just two runs on seven hits, while striking out seven.

The junior right-hander also had two hits, including a double as the Tigers won for the fifth time in their last six games.

Evan Wilson, Joey Donati and Aiden James also had doubles for Terra Nova.

Diego Carranza had two hits and drove in a pair for the Warriors.

W: Martinez | L: Nabung | 2 hits- Martinez (TN), Carranza (SSF). 2 RBI- Carranza (SSF). 2B- James (TN), Wilson (SSF), Donati (SSF), Martinez (SSF).