CSM tops San Jose in last at bat

For College of San Mateo sophomore Trevor Pasiecznik, it has been a season of perseverance. Friday in CSM's Super Regional opener against San Jose City College, Pasiecznik's perseverance culminated in an eight-pitch at bat in the ninth inning. The result was a walk-off sacrifice fly to give the Bulldogs a 5-4 win. Pasiecznik fouled off several pitches from San Jose starter Don Medlinger -- the right-hander threw 138 pitches to take the loss in a complete-game effort -- before getting one airborne to drive in pinch runner Griffin Kirsch. Pasiecznik said he knew the game was over the instant he made contact. "Oh yeah. I knew I got it in the air and I did my job to help the team win," Pasiecznik said. Having already tied the game in the seventh with a two-run home run, Pasiecznik was 2 for 3 with three RBIs. He is now hitting .316 with five RBIs in the postseason. Pasiecznik, CSM's right fielder, is a redshirt sophomore who missed most of last season with a wrist injury. In returning to the diamond this season, however, he has had to overcome a devastating tragedy. His mother, Jan, passed away last month after a battle with cancer. With his father, two brothers, and his cousin's family in attendance, Pasiecznik kept his composure while holding back tears in talking about his family. And, he was adamant in including his teammates in the conversation. "We're a family out here," Pasiecznik said. "[My teammates have] helped me out through so much at this part of my life. ... I lost my mom at the beginning of the year. That was rough, and they were always here for me. So when I come out, they are like my second family." CSM manager Doug Williams echoed the sentiment, noting how the entire team was affected by the experience. "It was an experience for our whole team, and one Trevor handled like a champion," Williams said. "That's why he came through today." Pitchers duel Bulldogs reliever Justin Burns earned the win in relief, upping his overall season record to 8-0. As a testament to CSM's tenacity in tabbing so many come-from-behind victories this year, Burns has worked exclusively in relief. Yet, the sophomore is among the state leaders in wins and finished the regular season tops in the state with a 1.15 ERA. Facing CSM starter Glenn Wallace -- the sophomore went 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits -- San Jose jumped out to a first-inning lead on an RBI single by cleanup hitter Gino Valetta. In the second inning, CSM answered in crushing fashion with a two-run homer by O'Koyea Dickson. The Jaguars reclaimed the lead 3-2 in the fifth, when Valetta -- who was 3 for 4 with four RBIs on the day -- sliced a two-run home run to right. In the top of the seventh, Valetta added an RBI single to give San Jose a 4-2 edge. Meanwhile, Medlinger had been cruising for San Jose. Following three straight hits to start the second, Medlinger set down 16 straight Bulldogs batters. "It's like a good boxing match, where guys are hitting each other and nobody's giving up," Williams said. "[Medlinger] righted himself and he was able to get command of two pitches. And when he does that -- 88-91 (mph) with a good slider -- it's going to be tough. But ... we didn't panic, and stayed with it, and our guys did a really good job." No sooner did Medlinger's consecutive-outs streak end, did the Bulldogs pounce. With one out in the seventh, he walked Dickson on four straight pitches. Pasiecznik followed with a booming opposite-field home run to tie the game. The obvious question -- despite CSM having posted a team batting average of .330 in the regular season, along with a team slugging percentage of .498 -- was did the team worry going into the late innings against a dominating pitcher? "No," said Williams, "because we felt like we still had the game in our sights. It was 4-2 and all it takes is one bang to do it, and that's what happened, and in a hurry." Dickson rebounds CSM's leading home run hitter with 10 in the regular season, Dickson was frustrated after hitting just .133 (2 for 15) in last week's three-game playoff series against Sierra. In his first at bat Friday, the stout 5-foot-10 slugger got second life when San Jose could not chase down a high foul popup. Dickson crushed the next pitch with a rocket over the scoreboard in left. "Last week was a big struggle for me," Dickson said. "But I came through today, put a good swing on the next pitch and it just felt good off the bat. I knew I had it when I hit it." Weekend games Action continues Saturday in the Region One tournament, with No. 1-seed CSM advancing through the winner's bracket to play No. 5 Sacramento City today at CSM at 11 a.m. With Sacramento defeating Fresno City yesterday 17-7, No. 4 Fresno City will take on San Jose in the loser's bracket today at Canada College at 10 a.m. In Region Two action Friday, No. 2 Ohlone defeated No. 7 Merced 2-1, and No. 3 Chabot downed No. 6 Diablo Valley 8-3.