Justin-Siena uses small ball in sixth to get much-needed run support to beat Berean Christian in playoff opener
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
Boy is it nice when playing some small ball gets you runs. It’s even nicer when they come at a key time in the game.
On Wednesday afternoon at Braves Ballpark in a CIF North Coast Section Division 4 playoff opener, this is what the No. 5 seed Justin-Siena did when they beat No. 12 seed, Berean Christian, 10-5, to advance to the quarterfinals. This was a rematch of a game played on April 13th when Justin-Siena won 2-1.
With the game tight, Justin-Siena got some much-needed insurance runs in the sixth to get a key five-run lead. It all started when Gray and L’Esperence reached on infield singles before moving up a base on a wild pitch. A single by Johnso brought in Gray. Then, a single by Giusto brought in L’Esperence. Johnson later scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Tinsley. Lastly, a Denkin single brought in Giusto.
“Honestly, I just think it was a click, and then things just started to happen,” Gray said as to how his team was able to pull away in the sixth. “Once good thing starts happening. It just it’s really contagious. I mean, I say hitting is contagious. So it just kept going and going and at the end of the day, I feel like the better team won.”
The Braves (13-9) fought back from a one-run deficit in the second when they erupted for five runs. The inning began when Sam Denkin walked and then stole second. Then, sophomore Henry Meyers sent a two-run home run over the scoreboard in left field. The long ball was Meyers’ third of the season and second in the last two contests, which is pretty good for a seven-hitter.
“He’s really feeling good about himself, and how could you not man? He’s a good kid like we talked about last week.” Justin-Siena head coach and manager Jeremy Tayson said of Meyers’ power surge lately. “And just a guy that’s really confident that the team really enjoys watching him hit and I think it gets a little confidence from them too.”
Following the homer, Jason Gray sent a double into the left-center gap that followed an infield single to put runners on second and third. They both came in on a triple over the head of the center fielder by Trevor L’Esperence. Finally, L’Esperence came in on a sacrifice fly to center field by Everet Johnson.
“Honestly it was having each other’s backs,” Gray said. “There was a lot of moments that game where something didn’t go our way and we just retaliated and had our team’s backs. We picked them up and I feel like that’s what got us to that 10-5 ending score.”
The Braves took a 6-5 lead in the fifth when they scored once. Luke Giusto singled and got to second when Dalen Tinsley walked. He advanced to third when Jake Fletcher bunted. Giusto then scored when Sam Denkin singled into left field.
Leading the Braves batting attack was Gray (3-for-3 double, 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs), L’Esperence (3-for-4 triple, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Denkin (2-for-3 walk, stolen base, run, 2 RBIs), Giusto (2-for-4 double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Johnson (1-for-2 walk, run, stolen base, 2 RBIs), Meyers (1-for-3 home run, run, 2 RBIs), Fletcher (1-for-4), and Aidan Phinney (1-for-1 run).
The Eagles (8-17) scored the first run of the game in the second to take a 1-0 lead. It all started when Josh Ting sent a double into the right-center gap and then scored when Collin Gayard reached on an error.
In the third, they scored once more to make it a 5-2 game. It all began when Noah Peterson and Damon Neu were hit by pitches and Josh Werner walked to load the sacks. Peterson came in when Bennett Wilson walked.
The game then became tied at 5 in the fifth with just one swing of the bat. Before that one swing, Wilson reached on an error and Justin Muegge reached on an infield single to put runners at first and second. Following a Ting strikeout, newly entered sub, Luke Upshaw crushed a game-tying three-run homer that just snuck over the left-field fence.
Starting the game and getting a no-decision was Giusto. The junior right-handed pitcher worked 2 innings where he struck out 2 and walked 2. Have gave up 2 hits in the game and allowed 2 runs to score, with just 1 of them being earned while throwing 49 pitches.
“Luke keeps getting big assignments for us and keeps responding,” Tayson said of the junior who has seen more innings later in the season. “It’s a playoff game so guys have a little shorter leash and credit to the whole pitching staff for coming in and stabilizing the game and putting us in a position to win.”
Johnson worked the next 4 frames in the long relief role where he struck out 5 on 60 pitches. He also gave up 3 unearned runs and 4 hits.
Cesar Evina worked the last inning giving up 2 hits on just 15 pitches.
With the win, Justin-Siena advances to Saturday’s quarterfinal where they’ll visit No. 4 seed Kelseyville at 1 pm. The Knights beat No. 13 seed St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo 3-1 on Wednesday. You can view the updated bracket here.
