The boys’ varsity baseball team defeated the Alcalanes High School Dons in a tight pitchers’ duel 2-0 on Wednesday, May 28. With the win, the team will advance to the NCS Championship game this Saturday, May 31 at Diablo Valley College at 12:30 pm.
Junior Mason Collins took the mound to start the game for Tam and remained in control for the remainder of the game, not letting up a single run. Coming into the bottom of the sixth inning, Tam was up 1-0, looking to extend their lead. When senior and second baseman Weston Lazarus stepped up to the plate with a runner on second, the Dons decided to tap their bullpen and bring in a relief pitcher. He could throw fast, but was not accurate, hitting both Lazarus and senior center fielder Geoffrey Mohn later in the inning. With two outs, Collins was up to bat with the bases loaded. The pitcher worked the count to full, but given his previous inaccuracy he couldn’t risk walking in a run, so instead attempted a trick pickoff attempt that the umpire ruled as a balk. With that, a run came in anyway and Tam was able to come into the last inning with a two run lead. In the top of the seventh all Tam needed to advance to the NCS Championship was three outs, and that’s exactly what they got with a grounder to first followed by two outfield fly outs. After Mohn ran in to make the winning catch, the entire team celebrated their victory on the pitcher’s mound.
After the game assistant coach Dan Dreger touched on some of the key contributing factors to his team’s victory. “It started with Mason Collins who pitched seven strong innings and was absolutely outstanding on the mound,” he said. “It also came from our defense, which made no errors throughout the whole game, but really it was just an effort by everybody. Everybody had their own individual contribution to the win today, and that’s what it takes to win at this level.”
After their critical win, the team is going to take some time to enjoy it, but have to get right back to work tomorrow in preparation for the NCS Championship. “We’re going to start scouting our opponent and game planning tomorrow, and then we’ll take it from there,” Dreger said.
The girls’ varsity softball team is also playing in the NCS Championship this weekend and Tam has another chance to sweep baseball like they did with boys’ and girls’ soccer. No matter what the result of the games, both Tam teams have shown what they’re capable of by going so deep in the playoffs.