Mark this day, May 23rd, 2015.  The Redwood Giants won it’s first outright MCAL title (winning both the MCAL Standings and the MCAL Playoffs) since 2005, tonight in a hard fought battle against arch-rival Marin Catholic in dramatic fashion, 4-3.

Redwood trailed early when MC scored 2 runs in the top of the 3rd when pitcher Bryan Jacklemiec helped his own cause, singling to center with the bases loaded. Zach Cohen barred down and held the Wildcats in check, fielding his position well, holding them scoreless until the 7th. The Giants again waited until the late innings to score, plating a run in the bottom of the 6th. Parker Laret singled up the middle, Aubrey Sine walked, and Adam Hussain beat out a hard grounder to second sliding into first loading the bases. Eric Doctor then hit a deep drive to center that was dropped by the center-fielder scoring Laret. Wildcats 2, Giants 1. MC answered in the top of the 7th, when Paul Kunst tripled and stole home. Zach Kopstein relieved Cohen and tallied the last out of the inning with a strike out. Giants fans came alive and rocked Albert’s Park in the bottom of the 7th with Redwood down 3-1.

Thursday nights’ hero Aaron Dorfler led off the inning by taking a pitch in the back. Devon Pence laid down a perfect bunt down the 3rd baseline for a single. Riley Overend took a page from Devon’s book and dropped another perfect bunt down the 3rd baseline for a single, loading the bases. Then Giants crowd grew louder, “Let’s go Giants!” bellowed from the packed stadium. “In all my years, I’ve never seen Albert’s Park so packed.” Coach Firenzi said after the game. Parker Laret then roped a single to center, plating Dorfler and Pence was tagged out on a perfect throw from deep center leaving the Giants down 3-2 with one out. Laret took 2nd on the throw to the plate, leaving runners on 2nd and 3rd. Aubrey Sine was intentionally walked, loading the bases and putting the double-play in order. Adam Hussain stepped into the batter’s box with 1 out, the bases loaded, and the Giants trailing by a run. Adam then ripped a 1-1 curve-ball down the 3rd baseline scoring Overend who was followed by Laret for the winning run. The Giants Win the Pennant! Hussain was mobbed by his teammates while Firenzi picked up Redwood hats and helmets that were strewn all over the infield. “These guys never give up, I told them before the bottom of the 7th started, ‘You’ve done this before, now let’s do it again’…” Devon Pence, Parker Laret and Adam Hussain all contributed 2 hits each while Riley Overend and Tyler Peck added hits to the cause. Zach Koptsein earned the win from the hill. The Giants now wait for their NCS seeding and will represent as the MCAL Champion.

The Redwood Coaching Staff proudly hold the MCAL Banner after the game. From left to right, Joel Russo, Rich Ependio, Head Coach Mike Firenzi, Freshman Coach Taber Watson, and Tim Grayson