BRENTWOOD – Liberty coach Andrew Lonsdale was mildly annoyed by the commotion Oakland A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn caused at Thursday’s Bay Valley Athletic League game.
Yes, Liberty graciously switched up the home-and-away two-game series with crosstown rival Heritage to allow them to honor their famous alum on his day off. And Lonsdale and the Lions applauded as Blackburn posed for photos with family and friends.
Oakland A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn holds a sign commemorating his jersey number being retired during a pre-game ceremony at Heritage High School in Brentwood, Calif., on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
But through all the pomp and circumstance, the Lions just wanted to play ball.
“We were here to play baseball,” Lonsdale said. “That’s what we were focused on.”
And on the day devoted to the greatest pitcher in Patriots history, it was Liberty lefthander David Roberts who stole the show and spoiled Blackburn homecoming in a 5-2 Lions victory.
The 220-pound Arizona State commit used his 91 MPH fastball and a wicked curve to strike out 11 and allow just four hits in a complete game.
“My curveball felt pretty good today, although there were a few times I tried to do too much,” Roberts said. “I’m feeling pretty good going into the playoffs though.”
Liberty pitcher David Roberts (22) pitches against Heritage in the seventh inning of their game at Heritage High School in Brentwood, Calif., on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Liberty defeated Heritage 5-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Liberty scored the last five runs of the game, including three in the top of the seventh to break a tie. Center fielder Cruz Van Slyke was 4 for 5 with two RBIs, and both Stevie Wellens and Jake Farr each had an RBI, one of those driving in Joshua Rhodes.
“We’ve been hitting balls hard, but things just haven’t been going our way,” Roberts said. “So to see some guys come through today in some big spots, it was huge.”
Liberty’s Joshua Rhodes (2) connects for a single in the seventh inning of their game at Heritage High School in Brentwood, Calif., on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Liberty defeated Heritage 5-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Heritage got out to a 2-0 lead by the end of the fourth inning, with the highlight being Carter Lowell’s inside-the-park home run. Alonzo Alvarez also had a RBI for Heritage, and pitcher JJ Kinnaird struck out eight in five innings.
Liberty improved to 11-12, 3-5 while Heritage fell to 19-4-1, 7-1.
Liberty’s Rane Miller (1) leaps to dunk a baseball as he celebrates scoring a run in the seventh inning of their game at Heritage High School in Brentwood, Calif., on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Liberty defeated Heritage 5-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Milpitas 3, Santa Clara 0
Milpitas pitcher Hugo Garay did it all on Thursday afternoon. He had three RBIs at the plate, and then allowed just three hits in a complete game on the mound.
Adrian Chavez had three hits for the Trojans, which remained a perfect 13-0 in Peninsula Athletic League El Camino play and improved to 15-7 on the year. Santa Clara dropped to 13-10, 9-4.
San Mateo 20, Mills 6
Everyone chipped in for San Mateo in its PAL Ocean Division rout of Mills. All 10 batters got a hit, with Julian Delfin going 5 for 5 with three RBIs. Aaron Wong wasn’t too shabby either, with three hits and five RBIs.
Julian Bleess and Jesus Olivas each had three RBIs for San Mateo, and Tyce Copus split pitching duties with Olivas. San Mateo improved to 14-11, 7-5 and Mills dropped to 6-17, 2-10.
Berean Christian 6, Las Lomas 5
Berean Christian walked off its Walnut Creek rival in an exciting 6-5 victory that saw the home team overcome four errors.
Damon Neu was 2 for 4 with a team-high three RBIs, and Berean Christian teammate Max McTighe was 3 for 3 with two RBIs. Charles Kruger had a team-high two RBIs for Los Lomas.
Berean Christian improved to 16-6, 4-6 while Las Lomas dipped to 10-11, 5-5 after the Diablo Athletic League game.
SOFTBALL
Capuchino 1, No. 7 Hillsdale 0
Freshman Dana Motroni handed Hillsdale a rare loss in PAL Bay Division play when she drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The best part is that her sister Avery Motroni was the one scoring that winning run.
Fellow freshman Lily Thomas more than held her own against the Knight’s high-powered offense, giving up just five hits. HIllsdale’s Alexis Kuka went six innings and allowed just six hits too. Capuchino improved to 12-11, 8-4 while Hillsdale fell to 21-4, 9-3.
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No. 1 St. Francis 14, Valley Christian 2
Jaime Oakland had done a lot in her 1 ½ years on the Lancers roster. She had won West Catholic Athletic League player of the year as a freshman, and has led off an offense that reached the NorCal Open title game last year and has yet to lose a game this season.
But she had never hit a home run. That was until Thursday, when she hit her first round-tripper as part of a two-hit, three-RBI day.
Hayden Hummel had four hits and two RBIs, and pitcher Kate Munnerlyn had three RBIs and struck out 17 in a complete game. Lana Escarcega had Valley Christian’s only RBI.
St. Francis improved to 22-0, 7-0 and Valley Christian fell to 14-11, 4-4.
