Kopstein Strikes Out Ten as Giants Drop the Hornets

4/26:  Zack Kopstein earned his seventh win of the year and his fifth win of the MCAL season while hitting double-digits in the strike-out column (striking out ten), walking two, and yielding just two runs in a strong outing on another windy day on the road in Novato.

The quick turn-around game had the Giants again scoring four runs on six hits which would be enough to send the Hornets record to 2-10 while Redwood (11-1) sits atop the MCAL standings just one game ahead of Marin Catholic (9-2).

Redwood came out swinging, as they dropped a crooked number (three runs) in the top of the first.  Nicolas Belgum led off with a walk, Eric Doctor singled and after Aubrey Sine advanced Doctor to Belgum to second and third on a sacrifice, the hot-hitting Henry Zeisler rocked a 2-1 fastball to left for an RBI double putting the Giants up 2-0.  Zach Cohen knocked Zeisler in with a single and the Giants headed into the bottom of the first up 3-0.

Novato sparked a two-out rally in the bottom of the third after back-to-back hits but the rally ended on a hard ground ball to Henry Zeisler at first.  Novato scored again in the bottom of the third after a lead off single, a sacrifice bunt and a double to right put the Hornets in striking distance, 3-2.

After Firenzi pulled the Giants from the dugout and held an impromptu ‘team meeting’ outside of their dugout in the top of the fifth, Redwood was able to muster another run.  Parker Bartlett led off the inning with a walk, working back from an 0-2 count.  Belgum sacrificed Bartlett to second on a bunt setting the table for Parker Laret.  With one out and a runner in scoring position, the All-League catcher/pitcher doubled to left, scoring Bartlett easily from second.

Laret came in to relieve Kopstein on the mound and earned his second save of the year, relying of the Giant defense to close out the game as Parker Bartlett made a play from short and Eric Doctor made a phenomenal play at third on a high hopper that he grabbed and tagged the runner advancing from second, spun, and fired a perfect strike to second forcing the runner out.  However, a tagged runner is not considered an out unless the umpire sees it, and the call on the field was a controversial ‘missed tag’.  Laret would just fire one more pitch as his fastball landed in the glove of right-fielder Ashton Finegold in right.

Parket Laret, Eric Doctor, Henry Zeisler, and Nic Gillies had a hit each while Zach Cohen added two hits.  Laret, Cohen and Zeisler were responsible for knocking in the Giants runs.

The Giants face the Terra Linda Trojans on the road on Friday.  Redwood has scored four runs in each of their last three games.  Terra Linda is in the midst of their best season in years with a 4-8 record and fighting for a play-off spot.

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