Sweeney, Pollioni one-hit HMB

ATHERTON – If the first series of the PAL-Ocean Division season is any indication, it's going to be a wild ride to the finish line.

Junior lefty Kyle Sweeney did his part on Thursday but throwing five hitless innings to outduel Half Moon Bay's Maverick Johnson in Sacred Heart Prep's 1-0 victory over the visiting Cougars.

The win allowed the Gators to split the two-game series after Half Moon Bay emerged with a 4-3 victory over Rallin Covey and the rest of the Gators on Tuesday on the coast.

Those two teams seemed poised to be in the Ocean Division chase all year, while Woodside, Terra Nova, South San Francisco and maybe even San Mateo have the horses to be considered contenders, too.

"Every game matters now," said Sacred Heart Prep coach Sean McMillan. "When it's one or two that come back to bite you at the end of the end of the year (that's rough). You don't want those to cost you. Every team feels that, but hopefully (we can) settle in and know what this feels like – that we can compete with anyone and keep it rolling."

Having a pitching combination like Covey and Sweeney gives the Gators a decided advantage on the mound. Sweeney was dominant in his five innings of work, allowing only three base runners – two walks to Riley Jackson and a two-out infield grounder that was thrown away in the third.

"I just commanded the fastball and was getting ahead in the count," Sweeney said. "I was using the four-seam, two-seam, and then the change-up and curveball when I needed a strikeout."

Nico Pollioni pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save. He gave up a bloop single to right by Paxton Holden and then hit Clark Calucci to put the tying run in scoring position. Pollioni got an infield blooper for the second out and then held on as Alex Ryan's line drive to right was flagged down for the final out of the game.

"They've got to the best pitchers in the league, so to be able to get a win on Tuesday was big, but to be right there and not be able to score is really tough right now," said Half Moon Bay coach Brian Anderson. "

The Gators scored the only run of the game when Pollioni led off the bottom of the first inning with a long double to the fence in left field. He moved to third on a wild pitch and, after Blake Affrunti's walk and stolen base, scored on a JP Durrett grounder to the right side.

The Gators chance at plating a second run that inning was thwarted when Dylan Betts infield grounder was fielded by Jackson, who threw home to catcher Jacob Couto who tagged out Affrunti for the second out of the inning.

McMillan said the Gators had a couple of baserunning blunders that prevented them from extending their lead.

W: Sweeney | L: Johnson | S: Pollioni | 2 hits- Pollioni (SHP). 2B- Pollioni (SHP).

Sequoia 14, The King's Academy 9

Bigger than the final score – a 14-9 victory that allowed Sequoia to salvage a split in the season-opening series of the PAL-Bay Division season – is the right arm of Morgan Winfield.

The Saint Mary's College signee left the game in the second inning after throwing his glove to the ground and grabbing his right arm in pain. Winfield, the No. 8 player on PeninsulaPrepBaseball.com's preseason Prime 31, has likely thrown his last pitch for the Ravens, coach Mike Doyle said.

"It's an elbow," Doyle confirmed. "He's probably done pitching for us this year."

Doyle said Winfield, who had a first-inning home run Thursday, might be able to swing the bat soon. On the mound, the staff has to step up, he said.

If Thursday showed anything, Sequoia has the bats – and enough pitching – to compete for a Bay Division crown.

The Ravens trailed, 8-2, when Winfield left the game. They rallied to tie the game after three innings and took charge the rest of the way. Nolan Fausto pitched and hit two home runs, accounting for four RBI, for Sequoia.

Cole Hymer had three more hits, including a home run, sophomore Ollie Connnolly added three singles. Isaac Nayfack had two hits and two RBI.

"Coming back to win the way we did after Morgan went out," Doyle said. "Honestly, this is one of the best wins I've ever been a part of."

The Knights, who beat Sequoia on Wednesday, came out swinging on Thursday. Home runs by Max Roberts and Nate Plata put The King's Academy ahead. Roberts finished with a career-high five RBI, while Plata finished with two hits and three RBI.

Dominic Myung had three hits for the Knights.

W: N. Fausto | L: Huff | 3 hits- Myung (TKA), Hymer (S), Connolly (S). 2 hits- N. Fausto (S), Nayfack (S), Plata (TKA). 5 RBI- Roberts (TKA). 4 RBI- N. Fausto (S). 3 RBI- Plata (TKA), Hymer (S), Winfield (S). 2 RBI- Nayfack (S). HR- Roberts (TKA), Plata (TKA), N.Fausto (S) 2, Hymer (S), Winfield (S). 2B- Myung (TKA) 2, Nayfack (S), Murran (S), Johnson (S).

Santa Teresa 10, Capuchino 4

The Mustangs dropped their second home game in a week and will host Evergreen Valley on Friday before opening PAL-Bay Division play on Wednesday at Burlingame.

Cruz Alfaro and Dominic Fanara had two hits each for Cap.

W: Mendenhall | L: Estrella | 2 hits- Momb (ST), Alfaro (C), Fanara (C). 3 RBI- Momb (ST). 2 RBI- Rodriguez (ST), Sagal (ST). 2B- Fanara (C) 2, Hall (ST), Larson (ST), Momb (ST).