2/28: The Varsity Giants took their second loss of the season, ending their streak of losses followed by wins dating back to 2014 when they also started the season 0-2 (Redwood ended that season with a 14-11 record).
The Giants came out swinging, scoring three runs in the top of the first after Nicolas Belgum lead off with a walk and Henry Zeisler sent him to third on a single to center. Aubrey Sine knocked in Belgum with a bingo to left. Dane Goodman cleared the bases with his second double of the year, putting the Giants up 3-0 going into the bottom of the first.
Josh Cohen held the Padres scoreless in the bottom of the first, but after walking the first two batters in the bottom of the second, he was relieved by Blake Cusick. Cusick beaned the first two batters he faced, sending in Serra’s first run on no hits. After striking out the next batter, Jake Damelio laced a double to left, tying the score 3-3. Patrick Caulfield followed up with a single, plating Nick Garcia, Padres 4, Giants 3. After striking out the next batter, the Giants committed a rare fielding error, scoring Damelio, Serra 5, Redwood 3. Caulfield caught the sleepy Giants and stole home on a throw back to the pitcher. Padres 6, Giants…still 3. Two more walks loaded the bases, and the next batter took one for the team, the hit-by-pitch sent another Serra run home taking the tally up to seven. Michael Benz came in to relieve Cusick, and gave up a single to right. Benz was able to end the “Inning that would never end” with a ground out to Henry Zeisler.
With the Giants down 8-3, Zeisler lead off the top of the third with a single to left, but was promptly erased on a 6-4-3 double play and the inning ended on a fly-out to center.
Benz sent the Padres down in order in the bottom of the third, but after a Luke Zlatnich single they were unable to score in the top of the fourth. Benz again shut down the Serra bats in the bottom of the frame, yielding only a single. After the Giants went down 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth, Benz gave up a double on a high fly ball to left that was followed by a first pitch dinger over the right field wall by pinch hitter Ryan Matoso. Serra 10, Redwood 3.
Aubrey Sine lead off the top of the sixth with a scorching double to left and was sent to third on a ball hit to the right side by Michael Connors. Dane Goodman knocked him home on a grounder to short, cutting the lead to six runs.
Oliver Pearson sent the Padres down in order in the bottom of the sixth on a five pitch outing. The Giants mounted a threat with one out, when Nicolas Belgum singled with one out. Belgum and the threat were erased on a game ending double-play.
“I’m not pressing the panic button yet. They had seven hits. We had seven hits. We went up early but couldn’t hold the lead. We definitely have some work to do, but we know what we need to work on”, Firenzi said after the game.
Nicolas Belgum and Luke Zlatnich had a hit each. Dane Goodman had a double and Aubrey Sine also doubled in a multi-hit game as he and Henry Zeisler had two hits apiece. Blake Cusick took the loss on the mound.
The Giants will be on the road again on Thursday, at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa.