Serra, Hui blank Los Gatos, 3-0

SAN MATEO – Contrary to media speculation, Serra did indeed have enough pitching on Thursday. As it turns out, Nate Hui was all the Padres needed.

Twelve innings on Tuesday may have depleted their pitching, but it didn't destroy them.

Hui was more than Los Gatos wanted in a 3-0 six-hit complete game that boosted the Padres into Saturday's NorCal tournament final at top-seeded De La Salle and extended their season deeper into June than they have ever been.

Yes, they're tired. There's some mental fatigue that comes from doing anything at a high level since last fall and going at it in full force since early February. And many of those senior trips that were scheduled to start this weekend, are now being put off for one more day.

Ian Josephson, who had three hits and made three inning-ending plays on Thursday, was supposed to be boarding a plane for Spain early Friday morning.

"I'm definitely not going (on Friday)," Josephson said. "We've got one more dragon to kill, one more beast to slay. I will not be on that plane."

In other words, they may be tired – mentally exhausted – but there's still enough in the tank for one more game. One more game against top seeded De La Salle, the team that scored three runs in the seventh inning to come from behind to beat the Padres in a consolation game of the Boras Baseball Classic in Sacramento in April.

"We'll roll into De La Salle with what we got, and they're going to get our best effort," said Serra coach Mat Keplinger.

Hui made certain there was one more game to the season by throwing a complete game Serra's single-season leader in saves made the most of his first-ever high school start. He was on the ropes a couple of times early but answered the bell each inning.

Keplinger approached Hui on Wednesday and asked him about starting the game. Hui was sore, but was inspired to make his first high school start after watching Davis Minton throw five innings of relief in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over College Park that went 12 innings.

"After watching (Minton) pitch, I just want to do whatever I could to keep playing as long as I can," said the junior right-hander who made the game-saving defensive play in last Saturday's CCS championship game victory over Valley Christian. "I love these seniors, man. I love this team, and I'm just really proud of what we've done."

The Wildcats had scoring chances in three of the first four innings, but came away empty, thanks to a strong wind blowing in that turned the comfy confines of Dan Frisella Field into a place where the 290-foot postings to left and right field were more of a tease than the reachable poke they advertise on windless days.

The wind knocked down hard-hit balls and allowed outfielders to play shallow, thus turning line drives into outs and making it hard for base runners to score from second base on a base hit.

"You have to find a way to manufacture runs on a field like this," said Los Gatos coach Mike Minkel. "You have to do things that put pressure on a defense. Serra did a great job of doing that today."

Los Gatos (25-6) had two runners on in the first inning, but Josephson went into the hole to field a Will Temple grounder and throw a strike to first for the third out. He did the same thing in the third inning to halt another two-on, two-out opportunity for the Wildcats.

"I've always wanted the ball in that situation," Josephson said. "I'm excited when the ball's in my hands. To watch someone else stresses me out, but getting the ball makes me feel at home."

Davis Minton ended a fourth-inning rally by going to his knees to the left of third base, regrouping and throwing to first to end another threat.

Serra scored the game's first run in the bottom of the fourth when Minton led off with a double that went to the wall in center field. He was bunted to third and scored when Tyler Harrison hit a popup to shallow right field with the infield drawn in. Second baseman Julian McMahon went back on it, but a gust of wind brought it back to the infield.

It would drop behind him, causing Minton to take off for the plate. The throw was on time, but Minton slid under the tag of Rowan Smith for the game's first run.

Serra scored broke open the game in the sixth with two more runs. Walks to Jack Armstong and Harrison put runners at first and second. With one out, the Padres pulled off a double steal and pinch-runner Jack Wessel, pinch-running for Armstrong, scored when Smith's throw went into left field.

Harrison scored on William Walbridge's single off the fence in left-center field that made it 3-0.

W: Hui. L: Ludeman. 3 hits- Josephson (S). 2 hits- Musser (LG), Biller (LG). 2B- D.Minton (S).

Division II: Saint Francis 2, Acalanes 0

The Lancers, who felt slighted by not being included in the Division I bracket, have made the most of their No. 2 seeding in the Division II bracket by advancing to Saturday's final.

They'll face top-seeded Yuba (30-5). The Honkers – what's a Honker? – beat Lodi, 11-3, on Thursday.

Landon Kim was back to his old self on Thursday. He recorded his first win in more than a month by going the distances and limiting Acalanes to just two hits and two walks.

The senior struck out five and threw 84 pitches in his final high school start.

The Lancers (22-10) broke a scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the sixth when freshman second baseman Landon King singled. He stole second and scored when the throw to third on his second steal of the inning went into left field.

Jack Leeper singled, stole second and scored on a Tanner Wall base hit that made it 2-0.

King, Wall and junior catcher Gino Cappellazzo had two hits each for the Lancers.

W: Kim. L: McManaman. 2 hits- King (SF), Wall (SF), Cappellazzo (SF). 2B- King.