Justin-Siena prevails over Piedmont in thrilling offensive slugfest to get back to CIF North Coast Section title game for first time in seven years
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
When you finally get over a hump that hasn’t been done yet, it is one heck of a feeling. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to get easier or you can feel satisfied.
For the Justin-Siena baseball program, the last time they played for a CIF North Coast Section title was in 2016. However, on Wednesday afternoon at Braves Ballpark, the No. 5 seed Justin-Siena beat No. 8 seed Piedmont in an 11-10 thriller to get back to the title game.
“Well, it means a lot,” Justin-Siena head coach and skipper Jeremy Tayson explained of making his first title game in his seventh season. “It means a lot really proud of the guys that took everyone that we have and just this is the way we’ve been wanting it to go.”
Justin-Siena (15-9) began the contest by gaining a lead in the first when Trevor L’Esperence reached on an infield single and moved to second on a groundout before scoring on a Dalen Tinsley double down the right-field line.
The Braves widened the gap to five after scoring five in the second. Sam Denkin was hit by a pitch and then got to second in a single by Henry Meyers and then scored on a Jason Gray single. Meyers advanced to second on the Gray single and then third on a walk by Everet Johnson that loaded the bases. He then came in when Luke Giusto reached on a fielder’s choice. Finally, Tinsley poked a single into right to bring in Gray and Johnson where he advanced on the overthrow to the plate to second, which also brought in Giusto from first.
“That’s how we operate on a normal day,” Tinsley said of the massive second inning. “I think when we run it on our general gears like that’s just that’s how we roll. Anything else is a mistake on our part.”
After losing the lead in the top half of the fourth, Justin-Siena retook the lead with a pair of runs to go up 8-7. Gray walked and L’Esperence reached on a bunt single before Johnson came to the plate and sent a double that one-hopped the fence in center field to bring in Gray and L’Esperence.
Justin-Siena then went up 9-7 in the fifth after Jake Fletcher singled and Denkin walked before they both gained a base on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly to left field by Noah Giovannelli then brought in Fletcher.
“We spent a lot of time working on routines and putting ourselves in pressure situations in practice and those guys did a great job of just being poised, work in their routine, and trusting good things to happen,” Tayson said of pushing across runs in key spots.
Finally, the Braves added a pair of difference-making runs in the sixth to go up 11-7. Johnson was hit by a pitch and then got to third on a pair of wild pitches, and then scoring on a Giusto single. Giusto got to third after a single by Fletcher and a walk by Denkin, and then came in on a sacrifice fly to right field by Emerys Davies.
In the game, Tinsley was 2-for-4 with a double and 3 RBIs to lead the Justin-Siena offense.
“I’ve been trying to see the ball deep, see pitches, and let my teammates know what he’s throwing on what counts, see how he’s attacking hitters,” Tinsley said of his approach in the batter’s box. “I’m trying to give my teammates opportunities to make it happen.”
Others leading the Braves’ offensive attack in the game were Giusto (2-for-4 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Johnson (1-for-2 walk, double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), L’Esperence (2-for-4 2 runs), Fletcher (2-for-4 run), Meyers (1-for-3 run), and Gray (1-for-1 run, stolen base, 2 walks, 2 runs, 1 RBI).
The Highlanders (14-11) knotted things up in the second when Will Parker walked and then came in when John Olsen drew a walk with the sacks full.
Piedmont then went up 8-7 in the fourth after scoring six times. It all began when Ryan McConathy ripped a double down the left field line before scoring on a Brandon Dicke triple into the right-center gap. Diego Delventhal brought in Dicke with a single and later scored on a bases-loaded walk by Peter Krumins. A Parker single brought in Michael Aikawa who had doubled down the left field line and Markos Lagios who had walked. Lastly, Krumins scored on a wild pitch.
However, the Highlanders didn’t go down without a fight in the seventh as they scored three runs in their last at-bats of the season. Lagios walked and scored on an infield single by Dimitri Papahadjopoulos where there was a throwing error to allow Lagios to score from second. Diecke walked with the bases juiced to bring in Krumins who had also walked. Papahadjopoulos scored the last run when Liam Campbell was plunked by a pitch with the bases loaded.
In the game, Justin-Siena had to use a plethora of arms to get the win. Starting and getting a no-decision was Giusto. He worked 3 innings where he struck out 4 and walked 4 and gave up 3 runs on 3 hits.
“Luke did a great job giving us I think he got 9 or 10 outs there, and it’s a playoff game” Tayson added. “So it literally took our entire pitching staff today and proud of him for getting the ball going for us.”
They managed their pitching so they should have all their arms available as well.
With the win, Justin-Siena advances to the CIF North Coast Section Division 4 championship game where they will face No. 3 seed Arcata on Saturday night at 7 PM at Arcata Ballpark in Humboldt County. The Tigers beat No. 7 seed Del Norte-Crescent City 2-1 on Wednesday night. You can view the updated bracket here.
The last time Justin-Siena played for a section title they lost to Arcata 6-1 in a game played in Humboldt County.
