The varsity baseball team battled late into the evening winning 1-0 on a walk-off single by senior Kevin Jordan on senior day against Marin Catholic on May 7. This key win bumped up the Hawks into a tie for second place in the MCAL standings.
Senior pitcher and Tam News reporter Kenny Rosenberg got off to a rough start, pitching the bases loaded with no outs in the first. However, the veteran was able to calm his nerves and end the inning with no runs. Both teams had scoring opportunities but once again, in the top of the fourth, MC threatened to break the scoreless stalemate. With a man on third and one out, senior third baseman Johnny Wachtel made a well placed throw to get the out at home.
In the next play, an error by Tam led to to another man on third, but this time with two outs. Once again, Rosenberg pitched out of the jam and kept the game scoreless.
“In a strikeout situation with one out [and] bases loaded, that kinda thing, that’s really when I feel that I’m the best,” Rosenberg said. “I had to do it for my team to buckle down so we’d get this win and get into a good position for the playoffs.”
After this scare, both teams settled into a defensive groove. shutting down batter after batter and forcing the game into extra innings. In the top of the ninth, Tam coach Mike Terry decided to switch out Rosenberg for Wachtel. After a lead-off hit followed by a bunt, the Wildcats were pushing for their first run. However, Wachtel shut down the next two batters to end the inning. Tam took this momentum into the bottom of the inning. After a quick first out, junior shortstop Alex Davis singled. Although the next batter struck out, Davis stole second to put himself in scoring position. Wachtel, now standing at the plate, was unintentionally hit for the second time in the game. With men on first and second and two outs, four-year varsity player Kevin Jordan came up to the plate. With the game on the line, Jordan tried to stay calm, cool and collected.
Jordan said he told himself, “Just relax. This is just another at bat, and once I [hit the ball], it will fall.”
After a passed ball advanced both runners, Jordan got his shot. He lined the ball past the extended arm of the second baseman. As Jordan tapped first, Davis crossed home and the rest of the team mobbed Jordan, celebrating the walk-off win.
“It was outstanding pitching on both sides,” Terry said. “We hung in there and waited for our chances. I’m glad we seized the opportunity.”