BURLINGAME, CA — Behind six innings of one-run ball from Jack Cauchi and an offense that put up eight runs in the first three innings, host Burlingame cruised to an 8-1 win over King City in the first round of the CCS Division II playoffs on Wednesday afternoon.
After Cauchi gave up a run on three hits in the first inning, with Jose Arreola driving in Thomas Stephens with a single to get the Mustangs on the board, the Panthers went right to work against King City starter Clay Barbree. Savaun Brown led off with a single to center, and a pair of wild pitches advanced him to third. Mitch DeMartini drew a walk, and then created a diversion on the first pitch to Gray Goodman by dancing off first base. DeMartini drew a throw from Barbree, at which point Brown scampered to the plate and beat the relay to score the tying run.
Goodman then doubled to right to score DeMartini and give the Panthers the lead. Burlingame added another in the inning thanks to some sloppy King City defense, and led 3-1 after one.
“We were able to see balls down and get good reads off the pitcher,” Burlingame coach Shawn Scott said. “We try to take advantage of our team speed with the fact that we were getting good reads.”
The Panthers (12-12-1) then broke the game open in the third. DeMartini was hit by a pitch to start the inning and stole second. Goodman rifled a single up the middle, sending DeMartini to third. Emilio Flores walked to load the bases, and Tyler White hit a sacrifice fly to left to score a run and advance the other runners to second and third. Robby Harrigan reached on an infield hit to score Goodman and make it a 5-1 game.
Mario Vargas then hit a deep drive to center field that Stephens misjudged, and the ball went over the head of the outfielder for a two-run triple. Matt Dahlberg singled in Vargas to complete the scoring for Burlingame.
“When you can turn over the lineup and get that leadoff man a fourth at-bat, that means your bottom half is doing a very good job,” Scott said. “Today our bottom half did a good job.”
The eight runs were more than enough support for Cauchi, who allowed just five hits and retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced. Flores pitched a scoreless seventh to complete the victory.
“My fastball was good; I was able to change speeds on it today,” Cauchi said. “When I know I just have to throw it over the plate, hit my spots, not worry about the team making errors, it’s a big advantage. I can relax and just focus on what I’m doing.”
With the win, the Panthers advance to the quarterfinals, where they will meet top-seed Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday at a time and location to be determined. The Fightin’ Irish defeated Pinewood 13-0 in the opening round, and won 2-1 at Burlingame earlier in the season. The Panthers, however, are looking forward to the rematch. Their season was ended in the quarterfinals each of the past two years, so they are looking to avoid that fate this season.
“We had a tough loss to them earlier in the year,” Cauchi said. “Our bats seem to be waking up, so if we can go and get some hits, I think we can beat them.”
King City, meanwhile, finished its season at 18-10. The Mustangs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Burlingame for the second consecutive year.
