Serra blast wins tournament

Down 2-1 going into their final set of at bats, Serra pitcher Chuck Lofgren was walked on four straight balls and was followed onto the bases by Doug Hansen, who connected with a single. Anthony Stoloski was thrown out at first and Armanino came to bat for his game winning hit.

"I was trying to redeem myself," said Armanino, who considers himself more of a line drive hitter and not a power batter. "I knew I had to do something big."

Lofgren, who threw 109 pitches over six-and-two-third innings, struck out eight, including four out of seven batters he faced in the third and fourth innings. He ended up with a no decision.

Teammate Drew Ryan came in with runners on the corners and two out in the bottom of the seventh to get the batter he faced to hit into a 5-3 final out.

The Padres found themselves on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third. After Jimmy Parque and Jesse Lehane got on base with singles, Lofgren popped up to create his team's second out. With Doug Hansen now at bat, an attempt to pick off Lehane at first was misplayed by the first baseman, allowing Parque to score from third while Lehane advanced. Lehane's luck would run out moments later however and he was thrown out by the catcher while trying to steal third.

Serra saw their 1-0 lead vanish in the top of the fourth as a two-error play brought in two Rams players. With runners on first and second and one out, St. Mary's second baseman Anthony Carruesco hit a deep fly to Parque in centerfield. Parque bobbled the ball after scooping it up. He next relayed it to second baseman Drew Pedersen who, in the process of trying to throw out a Ram at third, overthrew to Armanino. As he raced to recover the ball, the second Ram scored, making it a 2-1 ball game.

St. Mary's would threaten again two innings later as they loaded the bases. After their lead-off batter got on first because of an error, he advanced to second on a Lofgren wild pitch. Lofgren walked the next two batters he faced. The Rams would be unable to capitalize on this, however, as they hit back-to-back infield bloopers to force outs at first and second.

"I love pressure situations," said Lofgren. "Mentally, I tell myself to throw strikes and that you're gonna win."

After Rams pitcher Barry Enright, who threw the entire game, retired the Padres in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded, he faced Armanino one inning later and saw his hopes of a winning day crushed.

Serra manager Pete Jensen was impressed with how his team played under pressure throughout the tournament.

"Today especially," said Jensen, "in a situation where one play costs us two runs. This shows our character and how we can come back."