Menlo-Atherton scored three runs in the first two innings and held on for a key Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division win, 4-2, over host Hillsdale Friday afternoon. With the victory, the Bears (16-9, 6-6 PAL-Bay) remained a game ahead of the Knights (13-12, 5-7) in the race for the fourth and final automatic Central Coast Section playoff bid from the PAL-Bay. Menlo-Atherton is tied for fourth with Half Moon Bay (16-9, 6-6) with just two games to play.
The Bears took a 3-0 lead after two innings and held on behind the pitching of sophomore Matthew McGarry (7-3), who allowed just two runs and struck out 10 over the first six innings. Fellow sophomore AJ Lemons picked the save with a perfect seventh inning.
McGarry also went 2-for-2 at the plate, including a home run. Senior Charles Grose drove in two runs with a double and Alex Aguilar went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for the Bears.
Hillsdale concludes the regular season with a crucial two-game set Wednesday and Friday against Half Moon Bay. Menlo-Atherton finishes with a two-game set against Aragon, also on Wednesday and Friday.
