Davis Rich | Co-News Editor
In one of the zaniest and most improbable endings to a high school baseball game, the boys baseball team defeated the Capuchino Mustangs 2-1 Wednesday afternoon in San Bruno. The win propels the Knights into a CCS Division II quarterfinal matchup against Santa Cruz on Saturday. With the Knights leading 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, a leadoff double set the table for Capuchino. The Mustangs followed with a bunt that senior Wyatt Driscoll couldn’t make a play on and then a fielder’s choice that loaded the bases with no outs. The next Mustang hitter scorched a low line drive up the middle; if it had dropped, Capuchino likely would have walked off victorious. But senior Mikey Diekroeger stretched all of his six foot frame to snare the line drive and then deftly stepped on second base and threw to first to record the second and third outs of the inning, clinching the game. Madness ensued, as Knights players rushed the field in euphoria whilst Capuchino fans and players stood gob smacked. Mustang coaches implored the umpires to reexamine the play and determine whether the ball had bounced or not, but the call on the field was upheld.
Driscoll recorded yet another incredible performance on the mound, tossing his third consecutive complete game. Over the past twenty one innings, he has allowed only one earned run. Driscoll worked through jams in the last three innings to defeat the Mustangs for the second time in a week, albeit by a much slimmer margin this time. The senior’s inspiring comeback season keeps getting better, as he was named team MVP and second team all-league this past weekend.
The Knights took a 1-0 lead in the third when junior Macklan Badger walked, advanced to second on a groundout and was brought home by an infield single by Diekroeger compounded by a throwing error by the Mustang shortstop. In the sixth, Diekroeger led off with a deep double to centerfield. Two batters later, sophomore Jared Lucian doubled to break the 1-1 tie and give the Knights a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Head Coach Craig Schoof admitted he’d never had a team pull off a triple play, never mind the fact that the first one came in a bases loaded, no out situation in a must-win playoff game. But with the way the cards are falling in Schoof’s last year at the helm, anything seems possible for the Knights.
Link to triple play video:
http://vimeo.com/96102661
