Campo's James Marvel masters Alameda in NCS
Division II title game
By Ben Enos
Oakland Tribune
6/5/2010
Once the Campolindo High baseball team recorded the final out of last Wednesday's North Coast Section Division II semifinal, James Marvel knew he had to endure two long days before he got to toe the slab in Saturday's championship game against Alameda.
It was worth the wait.
Marvel was simply unhittable Saturday as he tossed a one-hit shutout to lead the No. 2 seed Cougars to a 7-0 win over the No. 4 Hornets, giving Campolindo the NCS Division II title at Saint Mary's College.
Even before Campolindo (21-7) could take the field, Marvel had to do a bit more waiting as the Division III game between El Cerrito and Miramonte went long. When he finally got his shot, Marvel was dominant, striking out eight. The only blemish came on a base hit by David Elzig in the second inning.
"Coach (Max) Luckhurst gave me the game ball (after Wednesday's win) and all week I was holding it and sleeping with it. I was getting ready," Marvel said. "I wanted to win it so bad for this team and these seniors and for the school."
Marvel got plenty of support, with four Cougars (including Marvel himself) driving in runs. Freshman Robbie Tenerowicz had two to lead the way, and Michael Kathan and Brett Stephens each had one.
"They got themselves in a situation to win league, and I think that was the first taste of something competitive and having to win a game," Campolindo coach Max Luckhurst said. "They got that and it steamrolled right into the playoffs and they were able to roll off the four (wins). They played their best baseball at the end."
The loss brought a tough end to the season for Alameda (21-9), but with only two seniors on the roster, the Hornets laid a foundation for future success.
"Three weeks ago, our backs were against the wall. We had to run the table against three top teams. We had to beat Berkeley, Pinole Valley, El Cerrito and come back and beat Berkeley," Alameda coach Ken Arnerich said. "We did that, then we won three games in North Coast. Our kids grew up during that time."
Alameda's
baseball team uses three homers to turn back Clayton Valley
in NCS Div. II Semifinals
By Ben Enos
Oakland Tribune
6/02/2010
The Alameda High baseball team forgot to bring its leather in Wednesday's North Coast Section Division II semifinal against No. 1 Clayton Valley, committing a total of eight errors.
The Hornets sure didn't forget the bats.
Three home runs accounted for nine runs as No. 4 Alameda clubbed its way to Saturday's Division II championship, defeating the host Eagles 16-11 in a 3-hour, 10-minute marathon.
The Hornets play No. 2 Campolindo at Saint Mary's College on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the title game.
Alameda (21-8) didn't score until the fourth inning, but the final three were where the Hornets did the most damage. Chris Lancaster started the home run parade in the fifth with a two-run shot, and David Elzig added a three-run shot in the sixth. Trent Yee provided the definitive blow, smashing a grand slam in the seventh.
One of the Hornets' biggest feats was chasing Clayton Valley starter Chaz Meadows, who has been outstanding all year. Meadows allowed six runs in 4?2/3 innings, thanks in part to a strategic change on the part of the Hornets coaching staff.
"We've been swinging the bats very well the last two weeks and we do have power on this team," Alameda coach Ken Arnerich said. "We do go small ball, but my report on Meadows was he handled that position very well. We were going to be very careful with the small ball game today."
Clayton Valley (22-5) tried its best to stay in it, taking a 5-3 lead into the fifth thanks to a wild pitch and an error. The Eagles couldn't capitalize on all of the Hornets miscues though, leaving 10 runners on base.
JV game summaries (if submitted) will go here.