RYAN SILAPAN
Prep2Prep Senior Editor

May 25, 2016

SAN JOSE — Patiently the Carmel High baseball waited for its chances. And when their chances arose, the Padres made the most of them.

“Early we didn’t get opportunities and late we did,” Carmel coach Randy Bispo said.

After going 4 2/3 innings without a hit, the Padres picked up a couple - resulting in two runs. And with the game tied in the bottom of the sixth, senior Jonah Trosky delivered the game-winning RBI single to lift top-seeded Carmel to a 3-2 victory over No. 13 seed Monterey in a Central Coast Section Division II semifinal game Tuesday night at San Jose Municipal Stadium.

Trosky, who was a role player last year, took the first pitch he saw from Carter Aldrete and hit it just hard enough to get through the left side to bring in Lennie Rodriguez.

“I was just trying to get my foot down and get the bat out in front of me,” Trosky said. “Just hit it to the left side and I didn’t hit it too well but it found the hole and I was really happy about that.”

Senior and University of Pacific signee Carter Hayes pitched the seventh inning to get the win. Hayes struck out three of the four batters he faced.

Carmel (22-8) will face No. 3 seed Menlo in the D-II title game Saturday at Municipal Stadium at a time to be determined.

Menlo defeated No. 15 seed Capuchino 10-7 in the other D-II semifinal game.

“We worked so hard, we deserve it,” Carmel senior shortstop Cody Clark said of reaching the D-II title game. “We put a lot into this season and we want it so bad.”

Clark broke up Monterey starter Ryan Moreno’s no-hit bid with a single to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Monterey (14-15) scored in the top of the first inning when Carter Aldrete brought in Marcus Dorn, Jr. on an RBI ground out.

For the first four innings Moreno was dealing.

He got out of a couple of jams that were created by Monterey errors and settled for a no-decision after throwing 4 2/3 innings allowing two hits, walk, two runs (both unearned) with two strikeouts.

“I knew coming in that (Moreno) was a battler and it was going to be tough,” Bispo said. “We expected him to battle and that’s what he does. He did everything everybody thought so he was tough for us.”

As Moreno was tough for the Padres junior Elliott Bouc was just as tough for the ‘Dores.

Bouc got a no decision (5 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, HBP, 6Ks), keeping the Padres close until their bats woke up.

“If you were to tell me Elliott would throw five innings and only give up one hit I’d say ‘Thank you,’” Bispo said. “I’m happy for us and Monterey for getting this far.”

Monterey — the fifth place finisher in the Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division — had upset wins over No. 4 seed and defending D-II champion Sacred Heart Prep and No. 5 seed Hillsdale to reach the semifinals.

Trailing 2-1 in the top of the sixth, Monterey tied the game 2-2 on a Cole Morrison sacrifice fly.

Nick Stornetta went 2-for-2 from the plate for the ‘Dores, who finished with three hits total.

Carmel, which is looking for its first CCS title since 2007, had only four hits. Two of Carmel’s three runs scored were courtesy of Monterey wild pitches.

Now the Padres are in a familiar position of being back in the CCS D-II title game.

Carmel recalls very well what it was like losing 4-2 to SHP last year and is looking to wash the taste of last year’s defeat clean away.

“Our whole senior class wants it so bad,” Clark said. “We came so close last year and we didn’t get it. We know that feeling.”