Jul 3, 2008

2-hitter not good enough

By Julio Lara / Daily News Correspondent

Sometimes, baseball isn't fair. Just ask Pacifica's Francis Crosby.

In his start against the San Carlos Pony All-Stars Wednesday night, the right-hander threw a two-hitter ... and lost.

San Carlos somehow turned those two hits into three runs and those were good enough to beat Pacifica 3-1 during the Peninsula Pony League 13-year-old All-Stars Tournament in Redwood City.

"We knew it was going to be another close game," said San Carlos coach George Descalso. "Our approach was to be aggressive. We didn't hit the ball today (and) were lucky we got a chance to win."

It wasn't a game of too much offense from either side, with Pacifica only managing three hits of their own.

Down by one in the top of the fourth, Pacifica managed to tie things up after a Crosby leadoff double. A Bobby Seghal fielder's choice plated him home shortly after.

But that would be all the offense Pacifica would muster, despite having a couple of golden opportunities in the game to do so.

"We just couldn't capitalize," Pacifica manager Tom Osmsby said.

Unable to hit the ball, San Carlos turned to hustle and great baserunning to get things done.

Keenan Donath led off the bottom of the sixth with what appeared to be a routine grounder to third. But the throw was a little high, forcing the first baseman to leave his feet to catch the throw. In a spectacular display of head-ups baserunning, Donath slid into first base, avoiding the tag by the first baseman and safely reaching first. He was followed by a walk and a balk to set things up for the middle of the San Carlos order. They delivered two RBIs, one on a fielder's choice to short and the second on a Charles Gould single.

The two-run lead would hold up, with Ryan Gazale striking out to end the game for Pacifica.

"We've been flat at the plate," Descalso said. "But our bats will come around."