SANTA ROSA, CA - Two of the top teams in the North Coast Section met to open the 2016 baseball season on Saturday, and the visiting Heritage Patriots rode the right arm of senior Kevin Milam to a 2-0 victory over Maria Carrillo.
Milam, who is headed to Saint Mary's College next season, needed just 77 pitches to shutout the Pumas, who are expected to contend for a Division II championship this season. That led Heritage coach Kevin Brannan to make a cross-sport comparison regarding the performance on the mound.
"That was the best first start of the year for any pitcher I've ever had," Brannan said. "For (Kevin) to throw a complete game on 77 pitches is the baseball equivalent to Curry's game-winning shot (against Oklahoma City on Saturday). It was just incredible."
The Patriots were led at the plate by outfielder Domo Espino, who went two-for-three with a double and run batted in. Espino got the scoring started in the top of the second inning. Alex Robinson drew a leadoff walk against Maria Carrillo's Andrew Vaughn, and advanced to second on a ground out by Jason Andersen. After Jake Cruce flew out to left field, Espino came up with a big two-out double, lining the ball into right field. Robinson scored for the early 1-0 Patriots' advantage.
Maria Carrillo (0-1) responded to the Heritage score by putting together its top scoring threat of the day in the bottom of the second. Vincent Riggio had one of his two lead-off singles, and moved to second on Ryan Sellner's sacrifice bunt. An error by Heritage first baseman Josh Pattee moved Riggio to third and allowed Grant Hermone to get all the way to second, giving the Pumas two runners in scoring position with one out.
Milam responded to the challenge, however. The senior righty set down Gunner Flanders on three straight pitches, and induced a ground ball to third from Bailey Swan for the third out of the inning. It would be the only time all game that the Pumas would get a runner past second base.
Heritage (1-0) added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, when Andersen opened the inning with a double to center field, advanced to third on a sacrifice by Cruce, and scored on a two-out infield single from Jake Cosgrove.
Milam would end up facing a total of 25 batters in seven innings, allowing four hits, striking out seven, and not walking a single batter. Of the 25 batters he faced, Milam threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of them, pitching ahead in the count virtually all game.
"It was crazy because I told him on Friday that 75 pitches was his limit for the opener," Brannan said, referring to Milam's pitch count. "And that is a very good (Maria Carrillo) lineup he did it against."
Maria Carrillo received its own strong pitching performance from senior Andrew Vaughn, who allowed just three hits in five innings. Vaughn also had one of the Pumas' four hits at the plate.
Heritage continues its non-league schedule on Saturday at home, facing Casa Grande (2-0), while Maria Carrillo plays on Wednesday against Vintage-Napa (0-0-1).
