Jul 23, 2008

San Carlos moves on to state tourney

By Richard Motroni / Bay Area News Group Correspondent

In its quest for the Peninsula Joe DiMaggio League South Division championship on Sunday, San Carlos decided the best way was via the long ball.

Facing a short-handed San Mateo pitching staff, and using the home comforts of Burton Park to its advantage, San Carlos produced four home runs from four different players and won the South Division crown 12-5. The win earned San Carlos a trip to this week's state tournament in Yountville.

"Lot of long balls today, pretty exciting," San Carlos coach Tony Cooper said. "They (San Mateo) were short-handed on their pitching, so our guys go sit back, wait for their pitches and our long ball guys were just swinging for the fences."

San Carlos' first long ball came not only from its ninth spot batter but also the club's starting pitcher, Zak Edgington, who stroked a second-inning solo home run. Edgington had two hits for the day, while on the mound he recorded four strikeouts through 5 2/3 innings.

Next to go yard was centerfielder Matt Watkins, who connected a third-inning two-run shot over the center field fence. Watkins would later hit a run-scoring single and finished with a game-high four RBIs.

Leading 4-2 in the fourth, San Carlos took control with a seven-run rally that featured David Dipaola's two-run shot over the left-field fence. Garrett Treadwell, who had two hits, ripped a two-run double into deep left, then Kevin Timko and Edgington both stroked RBI singles.

Zack Turner was the final San Carlos batter to go long with a sixth-inning solo homer.

"We have a very talented team, and I thought we had enough talent to win the division," Cooper said. "I've been with most of these guys since they were 7 years old, and they have a lot of talent and they're very loose."

San Mateo rallied to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the third when Matt Medeiros singled in a run and sprinted home on Matt Calderon's double to left. Josh Fredenall had a team-high two hits.

Though it was not the ideal way to end the 2008 campaign, this was a most successful season for San Mateo. The same club that could only muster three wins back in 2006 won four times more games this season, finishing at 16-11. More importantly, San Mateo managed to reach this year's division championship round.

"It's been a great season," said San Mateo coach Steve Baccei. "We won five games last year and won 16 this year, reached the championship round, and I will take that anytime."

San Carlos' first-round state tournament game will be Friday against Reno at 11 a.m.