SAN JOSE — With his freshman pitcher not having his best stuff and trailing most of the game, Sacred Heart Prep baseball coach Anthony Granato didn't make a move.
Instead Granato trusted that Angelo Tonas and his offense would figure it out.
The first-year coach was right.
Tonas threw 5 1/3 innings allowing only two runs and the fourth-seeded Gators rallied with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to capture the school's first Central Coast Section Division II title with a 4-2 win over perennial power Carmel on a warm and sunny afternoon at Municipal Stadium of the San Francisco Giants A-League affiliate.
“It feels great having your freshman pitcher come out like that in the biggest game of his life,” said SHP shortstop John Van Sweeden who gave the Gators their first lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. “My mentality was to let the ball get deep and see the right side. My coach said I was going to get an opportunity and I'm glad I did my job.”
SHP (21-12), which beat No. 8 seed Monterey 1-0 behind a four-hit shutout by Will Johnston to reach the title game, started the sixth with a single by Johnston. Following a Cole March sacrifice bunt, Andrew Daschbach delivered an RBI double before Van Sweeden brought him in with a single to right. Two batters later Andrew Robinson — who went 2-for-3 on the day — drove in Van Sweeden, who had stolen second base.
Tonas allowed just two hits and two runs despite walking seven.
“Once he got to see everyone bat he located a bit better,” said Van Sweeden of Tonas. “He let them put the ball in play and we just make great plays and the bats happened when they needed to.”
Chris Bird came in relief of Tonas in the seventh and retired the side, ending the game with a strikeout to earn the save.
Tonas admitted to feeling nervous at the start of Saturday's title game.
“I felt the nerves at the beginning,” he said. “I love fighting with these guys. I came out worked hard and threw strikes. I knew if I pitched to contact my guys would make plays.”
Tanner Koopmans, who went 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and two runs, took the loss for the Padres.
Carmel (24-7). tri-champions of the Mission Trail Athletic League, scored both of its runs in the second inning when designated hitter John Stivers delivered a two-run double to left center. Andres Enriquez and Carter Hayes both reached on walks.
From then on the Padres would get only a Joe Bifano single in the fifth the rest of the game.
“They had a great year,” said Granato about Carmel. “I tip my hat off to them. They beat up everybody they played and played us strong and jumped on us early.”
Carmel — winners of eight CCS titles — will graduate 13 players from its 25-player roster.
“The further along you get in the playoffs the better the pitching gets and pitching is good in the playoffs no matter what,” said Carmel coach Randy Bispo. “We saw some good pitching so tip your hat to them they stopped a really good hitting team because we hit the ball really well.”
Johnston and Daschbach each had two hits for the Gators, who not only captured the school's first CCS baseball title but do so under the first-year guidance of Granato — who was greeted by the Gators with a whipped cream pie in the face after accepting the trophy.
“It's awesome these kids wanted to be successful and they came out and worked their butts off to get to this point,” said Granato. “I'm happy for them.”
