San Carlos silences Daly City

Official officials or no, San Carlos took it to Daly City as they unloaded for 15 hits, including a three-run blast over the left center fence by Kenny Turner in the fourth. Belli, meanwhile, had a stellar day on the mound, giving up only two hits while striking out 11 in going the distance.

San Carlos scored first in the third. After Chris Davidson walked, he raced home on a Derrick Ohlson single which was stretched for an extra base via a Daly City error. Ohlson in turn was brought home by Turner, who would ultimately end up going 4 for 5 on the day with three singles and his fourth-inning home run.

After Belli sat down the Daly City lineup on strikes in the fourth, San Carlos went on another scoring streak that saw their entire lineup coming to the plate. After lead off hitters Ryan Kaher and Danny Galvin were walked, Davidson hit a run scoring single. He was followed two batters later by Turner's 1-0, three-run shot off of a fast ball that was up over the plate.

"I was trying to come out of a slump which was something like 3 for 30 over the last few weeks," said Turner.

With San Carlos now holding a 6-0 lead, Daly City tried to rally in the fifth. Belli had begun showing signs of fatigue, walking two of the first three batters he faced. A fielding error allowed the bases to become loaded before Belli walked the next hitter to give Daly City their first run. A single brought home another Daly City runner before Belli settled down to pull off a classic bait and switch to get the third out.

With the bases loaded and a 3-1 count, Belli faked a pitch and then turned towards second as the runners all took off. He raced toward the bag before turning to throw to Galvin behind home plate. Galvin trapped the advancing runner between himself and third base, resulting in a run down and tag out.

"We've been playing together since we were eight," said Belli. "We just kind of know when that play is coming and have used it numerous times."

San Carlos, now leading 6-2 and going into the bottom of the sixth, decided it was time to pad their lead. When the dust had settled from the wild inning 10 batters had come to the plate and garnered six runs, five singles, a three-run triple by Ohlson with the bases loaded and a deep, run scoring sacrifice fly by Kaher.

Daly City, the wind now out of their sails, fell quickly to Belli in the top of the seventh to cap the match.

"I had trouble finding the zone today," said Belli, who improved to 3-0 and felt his curve ball was his strongest asset. "The defense behind me settled me down and I was able to start throwing strikes."

"When you put a pitcher like Brian out there," said San Carlos coach Tony Scoma, "you're gonna win."

Scoma, who said his team was playing without four starters, thought highly of his guys for stepping up.

"Guys like Ohlson don't normally get much playing time," said Scoma. "They all got some big hits."