Sobczak out-duels former teammate Larson

In the end, Sobczak got the better of his former Serra teammate as Millbrae pulled out a 1-0 win in a Peninsula Joe DiMaggio League game that lasted only an hour and a half.

"I knew it would be a good game," said Millbrae manager Eric Gieseker.

For pitching fans, it didn't get much better. Sobczak pitched a complete game, throwing 93 pitches over seven innings, allowing only three hits while striking out 11.

Larson was equally effective. He also went the distance, scattering five hits and striking out six. An unearned run in the top of the seventh was the only blemish on an otherwise outstanding pitching line.

"As soon as I heard Taylor was pitching, I knew it would be a pitcher's duel," Sobczak said.

Sobczak said he had some extra motivation facing the Titans, which started three former Serra players.

"It's always good to play your old teammates. It's good competition," Sobczak said. "Especially when you do well."

Of Sobczak's 11 strikeouts, six were called third strikes. He also struck out the side in the first and fourth innings.

"That was pretty good," Gieseker said of Sobczak's performance. "Larson pitched well, too."

Sobczak said a tweak to his delivery helped him with his strikeout totals.

"I [used] a little different arm angle and it really worked on the strikeout pitches," Sobczak said. "If you can't throw a breaking ball for a strike, you have to be able to place your pitch exactly where you want it."

Larson did not have the strikeout numbers Sobczak did, but he was just as tough. After giving up three hits over the first two innings, he did not allow another until the fifth.

The way both pitchers were throwing, it was evident a single run would probably win the game. Titans' manager Doug List said he believed one run would win the game after about the fourth inning. Each guy was throwing two pitches for strikes, he said.

It turned out List was right. With one out in the top of the seventh, Jim McCarthy, who had two of Millbrae's five hits, walked and stole second. That upset List to no end.

"It was supposed to be a pitchout when he went to second," List said.

McCarthy then stole third and came home when the throw got by the third baseman and bounded into left field.

San Mateo left fielder Dan Murcia charged the ball and fired home and only a nice hook slide by McCarthy enabled him to score the game's only run.

Millbrae (9-1 in league and overall) had a chance to get to Larson early. Andrew Fanaika led off the second with a single to center and after a strikeout, McCarthy singled to put runners on first and second. A Sobczak sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third but a strikeout ended the inning.

San Mateo-Foster City (5-4, 9-6), on the other hand, did not advance a runner past second. In fact, the Titans managed to get only two runners as far as second base. Andrew Cheung had a one-out double in the fifth and Murcia reached first on a fielder's choice and stole second.

All in all, List was happy with the result, considering the firepower Millbrae possesses.

"They're a good team," List said. "[This loss] is almost a moral victory."