By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor Dawson Netz had gone all 7 innings in Friday’s 8-1 victory over Temple City in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs. The Maranatha sophomore started Tuesday’s second round game at Alhambra at third base. Netz, however, got the call in the third inning when fellow sophomore Charles […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
Dawson Netz had gone all 7 innings in Friday’s 8-1 victory over Temple City in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs.
The Maranatha sophomore started Tuesday’s second round game at Alhambra at third base.
Netz, however, got the call in the third inning when fellow sophomore Charles Acker started to struggle, and the Minutemen trailed 3-1.
Alhambra had runners on, and were looking to pad the lead.
But Netz righted the ship and went the final 4 2/3 innings and struck out 10 batters.
Maranatha rallied for four fifth-inning runs and the Minutemen defeated the Moors, 5-3, to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals against Victor Valley.
Netz (5-3) got his second playoff win in 96 hours and didn’t allow an earned run over those 11 2/3 innings.
Casey Popham’s single to right got Maranatha to within 3-2.
Max Blessinger battled and grounded out to second to get the Minutemen even at 3-3.
Two batters later, Eddie Lopez broke an 0-for-8 streak and lined a base hit into left-center to give Maranatha a 5-3 lead that Netz would protect.
Maranatha got off quickly when Max Blessinger walked, stole second and came home on a Charles Acker base hit.
Blessinger’s stolen base was number 33 for the season, which ties a school record.
Acker got through the first inning on six pitches, but after a single and a walk, things went south for the lefty.
Alhambra laid down a sacrifice bunt with no outs, and runners on first and second.
Ackker picked up the ball and whizzed it over Blessinger’s head into right field.
The ball got by the Maranatha right fielder, too, and two runners came home on what started as a bunt attempt.
The Moors scored one more run in the inning on a sacrifice fly and led, 3-1.
But Maranatha did what Maranatha does.
They grinded out a 22nd win, despite several mishaps and two bases-loaded scenarios in which both of their batters struck out.
Acker and Popham had two hits apiece for Maranatha and Ben Guess scored twice.
If his heroics on the mound wasn’t enough, Netz also went 3 for 3 at the plate.
The two schools met up for a April 8 doubleheader in which the Minutemen swept the Moors, 5-0, in both games.
But to their credit, six or so weeks later, this Alhambra team gave Maranatha a fight.
Maranatha will be home on Friday against Victor Valley (17-10-2).
The Jackrabbits defeated Sonora, 4-3.
Maranatha would like to have a 6 p.m. first pitch, but Victor Valley would have to agree to the time. Otherwise, it will be at 3:15.
Quotable:
Maranatha coach Matt Shupper: “Charles came out strong and then they got to him a little bit. He’s our pitcher of the year and then we brought in Dawson, who is our relief pitcher of the year. The guys really believed that they weren’t going to lose this game. They knew they’d get their moment.”
Maranatha pitcher Dawson Netz: “I just felt like I needed to shut it down and get our team a win, so we could advance. I was throwing my slider and it was working. At the plate I was pretty nervous, but on the mound, I had a lot of confidence. I felt really good, actually. I only threw 75 pitches Friday.”
Maranatha first baseman Casey Popham: “I knew that we were going to win that game no matter what. We have the mentality as a team that we were going to win that game. I’ve been playing Dawson since he was 12 and he’s always had that mentality that he’s going to blow everyone away.”
Maranatha DH Eddie Lopez: “In my last eight at-bats, they weren’t necessarily bad at-bats. I knew I needed to contribute in some way. I knew I could foul off his curve ball and I was on his fast ball. He left it up in the plate and I hit it the other way.”
Box Score:
Maranatha: 1-0-0-0-4-0-0-(5)
Alhambra: 0-3-0-0-0-0-0-(3)
Win: Dawson Netz
Loss: Benny Olguin
Records:
Maranatha (22-7); Alhambra (17-12)
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