SAN MARIN sews up TOP SEED IN MCALS - Marin Independent Journal

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SAN MARIN sews up TOP SEED IN MCALS

Mustangs ace McGrath improves to 3-0 against No. 2 seed Tam

San Marin’s Sean McGrath pitches to a Tamalpais batter on Tuesday in Novato. PHOTOS BY FRANKIE FROST —SPECIAL TO THE MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

Tamalpais pitcher Jackson Van Til throws to a San Marin batter on Tuesday in Novato.

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By Derek Wilson

dewilson@marinij.com

Amid the pressure and excitement of a chase to secure first place, San Marin High ace Sean McGrath was cool as ever on the mound.

McGrath remains undefeated in his career against Tam High with Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over the Red-tailed Hawks as the Mustangs (15-8, 13-2 MCAL) clinched the regular-season title and the top seed for the MCAL playoffs. Tam (16-7, 11-4) will finish the second in second place, ahead of Redwood and Novato.

“That win means a lot,” McGrath said. “Against a tough team, to be able to get the one seed, we showed a lot of grit today, which was very good. I just wish we got some more hits, but I feel like we played great defense and we attacked the hitters.”

McGrath, who is 3-0 against Tam, struck out 11 batters in a complete-game effort. As he went deeper into the contest, McGrath became stronger and more efficient as he walked just one batter and scattered five hits.

“Everything was working,” McGrath said. “I’ve got a great a great pitch caller (Matthew Baldino) who calls the pitches I want to throw. We have this connection, so whatever he puts down I’m confident that it will work.”

Baldino replied, “It’s pretty fun to catch him and pretty easy to know where the ball’s going.”McGrath singled to right field to advance Brady to second base in the first inning, but the Mustangs were unable to string together a series of hits most of the game. The Mustangs had just four hits in the game.

Hugh Brady staked the Mustangs to a 1-0 lead after scoring on a base hit from Baldino in the bottom of the third inning.

“We need better situational hitting in the tournament,” Baldino said. “We just have to put runners in scoring position and get those guys in. Today we scored only one run, but you never know what could have happened. Tam could have come back, and it could have cost us.”

Tam had its scoring opportunities, but McGrath was able to shut down the threat. A San Marin error in the third inning allowed Cooper Kift to reach second base, but McGrath struck out the next three batters to close the inning. Will Gensler’s one-out double to the left field fence went for naught as McGrath sat down the next two batters.

“There’s a bunch of good, scrappy hitters on that Tam team who can hit,” San Marin coach Jamie Vattuone said. “Those were some great swings we saw over there, just testing Sean

With time running out and two outs on the scoreboard, Tam fought back with back-to-back hits in the top of the sixth inning. But a stiff wind blowing across the field held up a fly ball to right field for the out to end the challenge.

San Marin briefly held a 1.5-game lead over Tam, but a 7-2 loss to San Rafael on May 2 added some extra spice to the final week’s schedule. The Red-tailed Hawks, however, needed to sweep the season-ending series against the Mustangs to take the top seed.

San Marin, needing only one win, wrapped this up quickly to take some of the drama out of Thursday’s season finale in Mill Valley. The Mustangs and Hawks will have first-round byes when the MCAL tournament begins Monday.

“The first season (the regular season), as we call it, we accomplished our goal. Now it’s on to the second season, which is the MCAL tournament,” Vattuone said. “Any time you can come out on top in that battle for the regular season, it’s something to be proud of. Now the tournament’s a big one, you always want that. But 16 game with all these MCAL team, I couldn’t be more proud of these boys for what they accomplished.”

Around the county

• Sam Gersch and Jack Moseley had two hits apiece as Redwood overcame an early deficit for a 6-3 victory against Branson on Tuesday. The Giants (15-8-1, 9-6), who have clinched a spot in the MCAL playoffs, scored twice in the first inning, then once in the second and twice in the third to take a 5-2 lead. Holden Cane had three hits for Branson (8-15, 2-13) and Cobe Benjamin had two RBIs.

• Julian Oliver hit two home runs and drove in five as Novato blanked Terra Linda 14-0 on Tuesday. The Hornets (15-8, 9-6) have clinched a spot in next week’s MCAL playoffs. Cohen Garcia had three hits and drove in a run. Gio Castaing, Dominic Scafani, J.P. Harmon, and Oliver had two hits each for Novato. Harmon pitched five innings and held TL (4-18, 1-14) to three hits.

• San Domenico, seeking to secure a spot in the BCL playoffs, had a six-run lead but was unable to hold it in an 8-6 loss to Lick-Wilmerding on Tuesday. Colin Falconer and Oliver Bennett hit triples to help the Panthers (7-11, 3-6 BCL) has another shot to clinch a postseason berth when they face Lick-Wilmerding again on Friday.