SAN JOSE, CA -- An unfortunate break befell both teams on Tuesday in a Central Coast Section Division II semifinal game at San Jose Municipal Stadium. While both twists of fate were bad, only Carmel survived its misfortune to defeat Aragon 4-3.
Aragon's stroke of bad luck happened in the bottom of the seventh inning with a Carmel runner on second base and two out. Andres Enriquez hit a line-hugging grounder to third base that went through the legs of Aragon third baseman Jordan Tong and into left field to allow the winning run.
The jubilant Padres mobbed Enriquez as Aragon looked on helplessly. The Dons' ill fortune was that the ground ball never came up like most do and the base was also in the way.
"I just wanted to hit something into the gap," Enriquez said. "I've been struggling the whole season. I didn't hit it very well and I thought the third baseman was going to glove it and throw me out, but it squeaked through and we won."
Aragon assistant coach Dusty Landwehr knew it was not a routine grounder that ended the Dons' season.
"It was just a tough ball that skipped right around the base," Landwehr said. "It looked like he got there but was expecting the ball to come up. It was a tough play to make."
Carmel now advances to Saturday's title game at San Jose Muni (time to be determined) against Sacred Heart Prep. The Padres persevered only after Dame Fate frowned upon Carmel in a big way in the fifth inning.
Padres' catcher Robby Treadwell, with two out and two on, hit a hard ball to third that Tong deftly fielded and threw powerfully to first. Treadwell extended his right foot to the base and landed awkwardly. Not only was he out, but his audible cries hinted at the compound fracture of the ankle he suffered.
Treadwell remained on the ground for 25 minutes until paramedics put him on a stretcher and took him to the hospital. He had surgery that same night.
"It's huge," Carmel coach Randy Bispo said. "He's a senior, three-year starter. Physically he's one of our best leaders, but emotionally he's an amazing leader."
Said Carmel shortstop Kenny Nava, who went 3-for-3 at the plate and had a run batted in, of Treadwell's injury: "It had a big impact; prayers out to him. But we stayed focused and got that W. I'm just happy we could pull through for us and for Robby. We're going to do it for him. We're going to work our (rears) off all week in practice and do it for him."
Nava singled in his first three at-bats, then led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk. He was bunted to second base by Joseph Bifano and remained there as Bryson Lino popped out, setting up Enriquez's pivotal at-bat.
"It feels great," Enriquez said. "We were playing for our brother (Treadwell) and to come out on top makes it that much better. Losing him had a huge impact; it fueled the fire."
Carmel (23-7) was in control early. It scored once in the first off Aragon starter Chad Franquez on Lino's sacrifice fly, scoring Nava.
The No. 7 seed Padres added two in the second on run-scoring singles by Nava and Bifano.
No. 14 seed Aragon (19-13), quiet through five innings, roared to life in the sixth against Carmel reliever Hayes. David Hermann walked to lead off and then one out later Ryan Field singled to center. Devin Grant grounded out, but Alex Athanacio hit a two-run double to left and Billy Mason followed with a single to left to knock in the tying run.
It was a noteworthy inning for Aragon which has never played in a CCS title game and was hitting just .256 as a team.
"It was a tough situation what happened to (Treadwell)," Landwehr said. "It was tough to stay in it mentally but we managed to battle back and put a nice little rally together and we just came up a run short."
Wesley Noble pitched the first five innings for Carmel, shutting out the Dons. He allowed three hits before giving way to Hayes.
Bispo said he yanked Noble because his pitcher was feeling a bit sore, not because of the long delay due to Treadwell's injury.
"He was a little tender," the Padres' coach said. "A long season."
Meantime, at catcher it will be next-man-up for Carmel. Daniel Higgman replaced Treadwell behind the plate after Treadwell was injured and he will start Saturday's championship game.
Bispo coaches the Padre catchers but Treadwell has also had a hand in training Higgman, a sophomore.
"He's prepared," Bispo said of Higgman. "Obviously we want No. 10 (Treadwell). We're just going to miss him physically, but he'll be with us emotionally and spiritualy."
