M-A blanks Jeff to surge into CCS

Sophomore starter Rowen Barnes shined in his first pitching appearance in over a month, firing four shutout innings to earn the victory, upping his record to 3-1. Despite walking four, Barnes said he felt good about his effort while walking off the mound in the fouth.

“I was super pumped up after the fourth inning,” Barnes said. “… It wasn’t like my ‘A’ game but I was happy. No runs scored. So I got the [win] for the team.”

The reason Barnes was so pumped was because of a bang-bang play at the plate that kept the shutout in order. Jeff had runners at second and third with two outs when Barnes threw a pitch to the backstop. As the runner at third, Gabe Gonzales, attempted to score, Bears catcher Tyler Nelson chased down the ball and tossed to Barnes covering the plate, who tagged Gonzales out to end the inning.

“It seemed like every inning they were threatening,” M-A manager David Trujillo said. “He would get himself into a jam and just figure a way to get out of it.”

Barnes has proven quite an add for the varsity Bears. The sophomore started the year with the junior-varsity squad. But once he notched a JV no-hitter in a 5-0 win over Half Moon Bay, he was promoted to varsity the next day. He not only made a quick impact on the mound, he also hit safely in his first four games and is currently batting .340 hitting in the heart of the order.

After an April 1 appearance in a non-league game at Northwood-Irvine, shoulder discomfort prevented him from pitching the rest of the regular season. Thursday night after M-A advanced to the play-in game with a 4-2 win over Woodside, Barnes said he called Trujillo later that evening to tell him he wanted to pitch Saturday.

The result drew rave reviews from Trujillo— in just his third game as M-A’s varsity skipper — who coached Barnes at the junior-varsity level earlier this year.

“He was a stud,” Trujillo said. “I couldn’t have asked anything more from a sophomore. … His composure on the mound is one thing I’ve always loved about him.”

Barnes locked up with Jefferson leadoff hitter Calvin Louie to start the game, throwing nine pitches before settling down the side in order.

“It was exactly what I was aiming for,” Barnes said.

M-A gave Barnes all the runs he’d need with a three-run rally in the third inning. Jake Albro got the Bears on the board with a one-out RBI double. Tyler Nelson followed with an RBI double to trade places with Albro. John Quinlan then singled home courtesy-runner Jonah Elisofon to give M-A a 3-0 lead.

Then after M-A reliever Elliot Zeien took over on the mound for two innings of scoreless work, Quinlan turned in another M-A defensive gem. With two on and one out, Jefferson’s Luke Mar drilled a long fly ball to left field. But Quinlan got a quick first step to break back and spun around as he approached the warning track to make the catch.

“I was pumped up,” Barnes said. “It was crucial because it prevented like one or two runs from scoring.”

M-A added two insurance runs in the sixth. Max Coupe delivered an RBI single to drive home Pete Discher. Then after a single by Jake Wang to load the bases, Albro produced a sacrifice fly to score Barnes.

Albro closed out the win with a scoreless seventh, finishing it off with his second strikeout of the frame.

M-A now advances to the CCS Division I tournament. Drawing the No. 15 seed, M-A travels to No. 2 Los Altos Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

“We’re just getting started,” Trujillo said. “We’re excited. The energy is very high and we’re ready for the next game.”

Serra into CCS Open; Carlmont goes Division I

Serra is one of four West Catholic Athletic League teams slated for the CCS Open Division baseball tournament. The No. 5 Padres will take on No. 4 Santa Cruz this coming Saturday at time and place to be determined. Valley Christian-San Jose, the WCAL round-robin and tournament champions, earned the No. 1 seed in the Open Division.

In the CCS Division I tournament, Carlmont earned the No. 5 seed. The Scots will host No. 12 Santa Clara Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Five PAL teams go Division II

Ocean Division champion Aragon is one of five PAL teams to reach the CCS Division II tournament. The Dons are seeded No. 5 and will host No. 12 Sacred Heart Cathedral Wednesday at 4 p.m.

No. 8 Burlingame will also host, taking on No. 9 Pioneer; No. 10 Capuchino travels to No. 7 Carmel; No. 15 Half Moon Bay travels to No. 2 Aptos; all slated for Wednesday at 4 p.m.

No. 14 Hillsdale travels to No. 3 Christopher Wednesday for a 4:30 p.m. start.

In the Division III tournament, Menlo drew the No. 2 seed and will open play this coming Saturday against No. 7 Thomas More; No. 8 Summit-Shasta will take on No. 1 Pacific Grove; both are a time and place to be determined.