SAN JOSE - Down a run after one-half inning and playing in a big, pitchers' ballpark, Branham needed to make a statement in its first at-bat.
It did, scoring three first-inning runs en route to a 3-1 victory against Menlo School at San Jose Municipal Stadium. The triumph, in the CCS Division II semifinals, sends the Bruins into the section title game on Saturday at Muni gainst St. Francis CCC of Watsonville.
The game time has not yet been set by CCS, but you can bet the Bruins will be on time and ready to go, as they were Tuesday.
"They'e excited," Branham coach Landon Jacobs said. "They're a great group of guys. This is the second game in a row they haven't had the national anthem, so the guys sung the national anthem before the game just to get themselves ready."
Menlo (19-13) hit the ball hard in the first inning and took a 1-0 lead, but Branham (19-14 quickly responded. The first two batters walked to start the bottom half of the first. Then Ryan Williams singled to center field to knock in one run. Winning pitcher Alex Zarate hit a sacrifice fly to right field to put the Bruins ahead 2-1 and then Cameron Caldwell singled to left field to make it 3-1 -- ironically, the final run of the game.
"We gave up that one at the top and things were a little tight and hanging a three-spot it relaxes everybody and makes them feel like things are going to be all right," Jacobs said.
Said Zarate who pitched brilliantly after that rocky first inning: "That early lead really gave me a confidence boost and let me pound the zone and be a little more relaxed on the mound, especially knowing that our defense was on today."
It was the final game for outgoing Menlo athletic director/baseball coach Craig Schoof. He's taking a job running the sports program next year at Oakwood School in North Hollywood. The Knights wanted to send him out with a section title, but found themselves down two runs entering the top of the seventh.
With one out, Christian Pluchar coaxed a walk out of Zarate. But then the Branham left-hander induced a double play started by the omnipresent Williams to end it.
It was the second consecutive inning Williams began an inning-ending double play after Menlo began the sixth inning by getting its first two runners on. Williams also went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Said Williams, selflessly: "I love having Alex (Zarate) out there. I've been playing with him the last four years and I always trust him on the mound."
Zarate allowed just five hits, striking out three and walking one.
Menlo's Wyatt Driscoll was nearly Zarate's equal, allowing five hits, striking out one and walking two.
The Bruins celebrated wildly afterward, then hit the Muni Stadium stands to thank their fans, as is their custom. On Saturday they will shoot for the school's third section baseball title and first since Branham closed for eight years in 1991.
On the opposite side of Muni, things were somber. The season is over for the Knights and a long tenure at Menlo has ended for Schoof who has been the Knights' AD for the past 14 years and coached baseball for 27.
Schoof, speaking to a knot of reporters, got a little teary-eyed.
"It's obviously very emotional," he said. "I don't usually cry a whole lot, but I broke down. It was also the last class I taught at Menlo today. ... These are just such great kids. This is one of the most fun, enjoyable teams I've had."
Graham Stratford led Menlo with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate.
