BelMateo wins back-to-back state titles

Attard’s two-run double capped a four-run rally in the fifth inning to propel BelMateo to a 4-1 win over Palo Alto. It marks the second straight state title for BelMateo, with the blue-and-red now advancing to the Babe Ruth regional playoffs in Surprise, Arizona starting Sunday, July 22.

“It’s always emotional when you do something big to make a difference for your team,” Attard said. “And I really think that was the final nail in the coffin for them.”

It was an emotional night, for sure, with BelMateo entering play Thursday having to be beaten twice to be dethroned as the reigning state champs. But Palo Alto upped the ante for the dramatics to follow by defeating BelMateo 2-1 in Thursday’s early game, forcing a winner-take-all rematch.

In the doubleheader nightcap, Palo Alto jumped out to an early lead when Roland Martinez-Luna singled home Adrian Contreras in the third inning, putting BelMateo in a 1-0 hole. And Palo Alto starting pitcher Christos Mavrakakis pitched three-plus innings of scoreless ball before the bullpen took over to escape a bases-loaded jam in the fourth to keep the shutout in tact.

In the fifth inning, though, BelMateo broke through.

“They came back and they showed their heart,” BelMateo manager Collin Kandarian said. “… Just because we’re down doesn’t mean we can’t have an inning like that.”

The comeback rally started with an infield error by Palo Alto, allowing Parker Crouse to reach base. Then leadoff man R.J. Abad proved the spark his skipper was looking for when he executed a perfect bunt. After Crouse stole second, Abad’s primary job was to sacrifice the tying run to third base. But Abad laid down a pearl and legged it out for an infield single, putting runners at the corners with no one out.

“I was looking for him to sacrifice and get him over to second,” Kandarian said, “… and that (bunt single) was fantastic. Sending him (on the stolen base to follow) and getting him going, it shows these kids we can get it done.”

Jorge Chavarin followed with a lofty sacrifice fly to right field to plate Crouse with the tying run. Then No. 3 hitter Nick Rogers — the losing pitcher in the earlier game despite his registering a quality start — lashed the go-ahead single to right field.

“Once we took the lead, it was unreal,” Kandarian said. “It was loud. You can hear kids voices gone just from having done that.”

Devin Cuschieri followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Then after Cuschieri swiped second, Attard blasted a shot up the left-center gap to give BelMateo a 4-1 lead, rounded second before strutting back to the bag and letting loose with the resounding: “Yeah!”

“I like to get hyped,” Attard said. “I like to get people involved. And that was one of those hits that got the whole team involved.”

Attard’s heroics didn’t stop there though.

BelMateo starting pitcher Nick Chea dealt through six innings of work, allowing one run on seven hits to earn the win. Following the Game 1 loss, it was questionable who was going to start for BelMateo. But a quick conversation with Chea convinced Kandarian the right-hander should get the ball.

“’You know what coach? I’m going to go out there and shove.’” Kandarian said of Chea’s words between games. “And I knew right then and there he was going to be my guy.”

With BelMateo posting a 5-1 record in the tourney, Attard has been the team’s surefire closer. He finished three previous games, and Kandarian was determined for the right-hander to finish his fourth on the championship stage.

“He was either going to win it for us or lose it for us,” Kandarian said.

Attard got into trouble, allowing a hit to Matthew Caren to start the inning. Garrett Faure then grinded out a walk to bring the potential tying run to the plate. But Attard responded with three straight strikeouts. The final one did not come easy though as, with two outs, he threw three straight balls to run the count to 3-0 to the final batter.

Attard just calmed himself and put his faith in his defense.

“Just throw strikes,” Attard said. “I just let them hit it, and if they hit it to one of my guys, it’s an out.”

But that didn’t happen, as Attard worked out of the hole by executing three straight strikes to end it, sending BelMateo to Surprise, Arizona for the second straight year.

Attard was named MVP of the tournament. In addition to closing out four games in relief, he was 8 of 16 at the plate.

The regional playoffs run from July 22-28. The winner advances to the Babe Ruth World Series from Aug. 9-16 in Longview, Washington.