Rosalski’s key hit in first inning, dominant outing leads Napa past Castro Valley in pitcher’s duel
By Kyle Foster
Follow on Twitter/X: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
There are times when you just have to do everything by yourself to win. That’s just how it goes sometimes in sports.
On Saturday morning at Mount Field, this happened as Napa High beat Castro Valley, 1-0.
The player that had to do everything for the Grizzlies was Mason Rosalski. He began the day by driving in the game’s only run in the first inning. It all started when Drew Herbert and Collin Taylor were hit by pitches before Rosalski hit a ground ball to second that was botched in the outfield, which allowed Herbert to score.
“Well, our top-of-the-order set the table like they have all year,” Napa interim head coach and manager Dustin Green explained. “Our guys at the top of the order there Mason Bartlett, Drew Herbert, Collin Taylor, Dylan Chatham have just done an amazing job of getting on base all year and really just taking good at-bats.”
Rosaski ended the day going 1-for-3 at the plate. Rosalski said he was just sitting on a fastball.
“I was just sitting first-pitch fastball,” he explained. “And I just wanted to put something in play. After coming back yesterday, I was 0-for-4. I just wanted to do something.”
After that, he was marvelous on the hill. The sophomore worked 5 no-hit innings on the way to getting his second win of the season. He struck out 5 and walked 4 while throwing 82 pitches as well.
“I was just trying to pump and throw hard,” Rosalski said of his day on the hill. “My off speeds were really working for me, which set the batters off.”
Rosalski was able to keep batters at bay by using his slider to get key outs when he needed it.
“We’re watching him in real-time with the development of this guy,” Green pointed out. “I mean, he’s only a sophomore. He’s got so much talent. It’s really the part up top, the mental game that we’re working with him on.”
Napa (4-2) had other chances to score throughout the game as well. However, they could never get the big hit to extend the lead. In the game, the Grizzlies left 15 men on base and were 1-for-3 in the key situations.
“That’s baseball. They had some really good arms on the mound,” Green added. “That being said, I thought the one run isn’t exactly indicative of the at-bats we took today. I think our hitters looked really comfortable. You tip your cap to their pitcher and their defense for getting out of some jams. But we took great at-bats today.”
Others hitting for Napa in the game were Mason Barrett (1-for-3), and Diego Hernandez (1-for-1).
Working the final 2 innings and earning the save was Trent Adams. The senior righty allowed two hits while walking 1 and throwing just 22 pitches. It was his first save of the season.
Castro Valley (7-2) had a few chances of their own to tie or even take the lead as well.
Napa will be back in action Monday at 3:30 pm when they host Elite-Vallejo.
