BRENTWOOD – The player who set the tone for Heritage on Tuesday in its first-round North Coast Section playoff game wasn’t even on its roster to start the year. Sophomore left-hander Cristian Machado, who was called up during the season, struck out the side in the top of the first inning against Freedom and was off and running from there, leading the Patriots to the 4-0 victory and a berth in the quarterfinals.
Machado set down Anthony DeVera, Andrew Neil and Kyren Paris in order to start the game, and senior leadoff hitter Tom Rover kept the momentum going in the bottom of the first, going opposite field for a double down the left-field line. Rover advanced to third on a ground-out, then came in to score when a two-strike fastball just off the outside part of the plate tipped off the catcher’s glove for a passed ball, giving Heritage an early one-run lead.
Over the next three innings, Freedom got one base-runner in each frame, but Machado never allowed a runner past second base, calmly mixing speeds and locations. His fastball stayed in the low to mid 80’s, which he mixed with off-speed pitches and an ability to get ahead in the count to keep the Falcons off balance.
“He has been like that from his very first outing for us this year, and he approached today with the same manner he has approached every one of his starts,” said Heritage coach Kevin Brannan. “We’ve come to expect that type of performance from him, in a very short period of time.”
Machado improved to 7-1 for the season, with a 1.70 ERA, and has 43 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched. On Tuesday, he allowed just two hits while striking out six in six innings. And his offense provided some insurance in the bottom of the fourth, though certainly not without the help of a major gaffe by the Freedom defense.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Ryan Troye singled down the right-field line and Bryce Arana’s ground ball to shortstop went under Paris’ glove to allow both runners to reach safely. A wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position, though Freedom pitcher Brian McBroom was able to strike out Garrett Jensen looking for the second out of the inning. With both corner infielders playing far behind their bags, Gavin Tonkel attempted to lay down a surprise bunt for the Patriots.
His bunt attempt went right back to the mound, however, and McBroom should have had an easy play at first to end the inning. Instead, he flipped the ball home to his catcher, who was straddled behind the plate a bit, which allowed Troye to slide in under the tag, and Tonkel advanced all the way to second on the play, keeping two runners in scoring position, but now with a 2-0 lead. Rover followed with his second hit of the game, a single up the middle which scored both Arana and Tonkel for the four-run lead.
“Gavin just did one of the things we stress, which is put the ball in play and put some pressure on the defense. You never know what the end result is going to be when you are able to do that,” Brannan added.
Machado allowed just one runner over the next two innings, on a hit by pitch, and was lifted after issuing a lead-off walk in the top of the seventh. Ryan Jackson, who had not pitched since the second week of April, came in to retire the next three batters and end the game, including a strikeout for the final out.
"What really stood out with Cristian was how calm and cool he was. I had seen him in workouts with his travel ball team, but did not realize he was that chill and composed. It was as professional as you could see from a sophomore," said Prep Baseball Report Northern California Director of Scouting Blaine Clemmens, who compared Machado to a young Wilson Alvarez. "He pitched off his fastball real well, located it in and away, and threw just enough breaking balls."
With the win, Heritage advances to the section quarterfinals for the fourth straight season, and will head to three seed Acalanes, who beat Dublin 1-0 in nine innings. For more on that game, read below.
Murgia’s walk-off lifts Acalanes
Plenty of time had elapsed already, so Cole Murgia went after the first strike he saw with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. His single to center field was just enough to score Thatcher Hurd from second base and end a fantastic battle of pitching and defense in a first-round NCS Division I playoff game.
Grant Manning turned in six strong innings for 14-seed Dublin, striking out seven and scattering five hits, but his effort was matched by that of the Dons’ fearsome trio of Logan Hurd, Eddie Burns and Nick Kresnak. Hurd, Burns and Kresnak each tossed three innings for Acalanes, combining on a four-hit effort. Burns had the highest pitch count of the three, with 44 pitches thrown, which means all three will again be available for the Dons’ quarterfinal game on Friday against Heritage. Kresnak came in for the final three innings, and the Washington commit slammed the door with four strikeouts and just one hit allowed.
Even in the bottom of the ninth, it appeared that the game might continue further into extra innings, and probably would have if not for a couple lapses in control on the mound. Reed Gaynor, who pitched scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth for Dublin, opened the inning by hitting Tommy Thrasher, who advanced to second on Brady Huchingson’s sacrifice bunt. Gaynor then plunked Hurd to put runners on first and second with one out.
Davis Diaz grounded into a force out at third base for the second out of the inning, but that was when Murgia came through with his game-winning at-bat.
Acalanes, which went unbeaten in the DAL-Foothill during the regular season, will host Heritage on Friday in a battle of league champions.
Monte Vista goes nine to beat Berkeley
A two-out error in the bottom of the ninth inning allowed Monte Vista to beat Berkeley on Tuesday, 2-1.
With two outs and nobody on base for the Mustangs, Tom Gavello gave the inning life with his double to right field. Ryder Martin then hit a ground ball to third base for what appeared to be the third out of the inning, but Benjamin Seashore-Hobson’s throw to first base got away from Zachary Tallerman, allowing Martin to reach safely and Gavello to race around third and score the winning run in a thrilling eight versus nine match-up in the Division I bracket.
Gavello had three hits for Monte Vista, which had trailed 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth, when John Meyers doubled to score Brandon Yan. Berkeley scored its lone run in the top of the first, when Theo Hardy’s ground ball to shortstop scored Seashore-Hobson, who had drawn a leadoff walk.
Josh White earned the win for the Mustangs, striking out six in three scoreless innings. Chase Doris threw the first four innings for Monte Vista. Ole Iversen went six strong innings for the Yellowjackets, scattering seven hits while striking out seven.
Monte Vista heads to De La Salle in the quarterfinals. The Spartans beat James Logan, 5-0.
Around the horn
Eric Reyzelman allow no hits and struck out 12 over six innings to lead De La Salle past James Logan, 12-0. Nick Fusari went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the win for the Spartans, who host Monte Vista on Friday.
Foothill scored six times in the bottom of the fifth inning, erasing what had once been a two-run deficit to beat Liberty, 7-4. Errors played a large part in the big inning for the Falcons, which culminated in Niko Mollat’s bases-clearing triple to score three runs which proved to be necessary insurance. Brenden Bell and Nick Poss each had three hits in the loss for Liberty.
Foothill will host Dougherty Valley in the quarterfinals, after the Wildcats pulled the biggest upset of the first round, ousting five-seed College Park, 1-0, in extra innings. Jesse Barron went the distance for Dougherty Valley, striking out eight and allowing just four hits over the eight innings. Philip Liu’s sacrifice fly to score Jack Varni in the top of the eighth inning provided the winning run.
Clayton Valley scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning, and then held on to beat San Ramon Valley, 4-3. Telly Hill drove in two runs with his base hit in the second, while Joey Wheeler and Jack Murphy also drove in runs during the big inning. Wheeler finished the game 2-for-2 with a run scored. Clay Facteau and Jack Grant each had a pair of hits for the Wolves in the loss.
Justin Rasmussen scattered three hits over four and one-third innings on the mound to lead Amador Valley to the 3-1 win over San Leandro. Jaden Sheppard and Luke Palfalvi each had two hits for the Dons, who scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to break open a tie game. Amador Valley will host Clayton Valley in the quarterfinals.
