Cañada lets one get away to Merced in home opener

After tallying two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 2-1 lead, the Colts opened the top of the ninth with a costly defensive miscue. With relief pitcher Sergio Noriega (San Mateo HS) just into the game to attempt his third save of the season, third baseman Patrick O’Reagan (Serra) opened the frame with an error allowing Merced cleanup hitter Ryan Frakes to reach base.

“We’ve made a lot of errors early in the season,” Cañada manager Tony Lucca said. “Our defense has been pretty shaky. We’ve got to iron that out.”

After a Dylon Jackson single, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Omar Sanchez, Merced wielded the big blow when Tyler Butterfield produced a two-run double. The Colts rallied in the bottom of the frame to put runners at the corners with one out, but Alex Athanacio (Aragon) and Noriega struck out back-to-back to end it.

Noriega took the hard-luck loss. The sophomore left-hander falls to 0-1 on the season, including his first blown save in three chances. He came on in relief of starting pitcher Alejandro Cabrera (St. Brendan-Miami), who turned in his second stellar outing of the season.

Cabrera earned the opening-day victory Jan. 26 at Sacramento City — working seven innings, while allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits — a game in which Cañada committed five errors and still came away with the victory.

“We had five errors behind him and he still found a way to come out of the game with a lead,” Lucca said. “So that was pretty good on his part.”

Noriega dealt Saturday to the tune of one run on six hits through eight innings of work. He walked off the mound with the Colts trailing 1-0. But they rallied in support of their ace with a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning.

Athanacio stepped to the plate with two outs and gave Cañada a charge when he launched his first home run of the year to tie it 1-1. The sophomore leadoff hitter totaled just one homer all of last season, scuffling with a .236 average.

“He had some ups and downs,” Lucca said. “He’s very talented. He’s definitely our best player.”

Cañada went on to load the bases with singles from Noriega and Sam Terry (Eastlake-San Diego), and O’Reagan getting hit by a pitch. Tyler Brandenbrug (Carlmont) followed with a hit by pitch, forcing home Noriega to give the Colts a 2-1 lead.

Despite struggling at the plate through the season’s opening week, the Colts split a two-game series with Merced. They won on the road 9-8 last Thursday in the first game between the two. Cañada, as a team, is batting .203.

Four-run 7th fuels CSM win

College of San Mateo freshman Chris Apecechea (Serra) earned his second victory in as many outings, as the Bulldogs (3-1) rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh to win 7-5 Saturday at Solano.

The Bulldogs led 3-1 after five innings, but starting pitcher Wyatt Tucker (Arcata HS) departed in the sixth and reliever Jamie Kruger (Woodside) surrendered the lead allowing one inherited run and two of his own to score. Apecechea then emerged to get the final out of the inning. The right-hander totaled 1 1/3 shutout frames.

In the seventh, CSM freshman Kevin Jordan (Wellington Point State-Australia) singled home the tying run. Jack McCarthy (San Juan Hills-San Juan Capistrano) later scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball. Sophomore left-hander Justin Berry (James Logan-Union City) worked the final two frames, allowing one run while striking out five, to earn the save.

Skyline still looking for 1st win

The Trojans (0-5) took a one-run lead into the eighth inning but imploded to fall to Cosumnes River in Saturday’s home opener.

Skyline saw Cosumnes score five runs in the eighth without a hit. Three Trojans pitchers — Derek Flowers (Burlingame), Bismark Hernandez (El Camino) and Sean Craig (Riordan) — totaled six walks in the frame while third baseman Andrew Kennedy committed an error. Craig took his second loss of the year.

Skyline totaled 11 hits in the game, with sophomore Joey Pledger (Terra Nova) and Chas Verdezco (Benton HS-Missouri) totaling three hits apiece.