Sports

Baseball: Dougherty Valley Qualifies for Playoffs

In their second varsity season, the Wildcats will be headed to the postseason.

When Dougherty Valley High opened in 2007, baseball coach Brian Freitas knew establishing a reputable baseball program in an area filled with them would be a challenge.

It took less than three years.

With its 13th win of the season on Thursday, the Wildcats qualified for the North Coast Section Division III playoffs.

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"I'm so proud of the guys," Freitas said. "To make the playoffs in just our second year having a varsity program and first year with seniors — and only four of them — that's a heck of an accomplishment."

The Wildcats' home game against Dublin on April 13 was suspended due to darkness with the score tied at 4-4 after 12 innings and was picked up from the top of the 13th at Dublin on Thursday. After Dougherty Valley held the Gaels scoreless for two innings, Andrew Ramos doubled to lead off the 14th. Tanner Pinkston bunted him to third before Dublin issued free passes to Shane Jackson and Joey Wilson to load the bases.

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Kyle Medieros' ground ball to short was fielded cleanly, but the throw to the plate drew the catcher off the plate and Ramos slid in safely for the game-winning run. (see video)

"It's pretty exciting," Wilson said of the Wildcats' success this year. "We all have worked really hard for three years and to make the playoffs this quickly, in our second varsity season is great."

Wilson picked up the win after throwing eight scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Almost immediately after the Wildcats locked up a playoff spot, the originally scheduled game against Dublin got underway. After striking for an unearned run in the first, the Dougherty bats fell silent and Wilson's scoreless streak against Dublin ended at nine innings.

The junior was tagged was with decision in the 3-1 loss after giving up three runs — two earned — in 5 1/3. He allowed just five hits and walked one and was 3 for 3 at the plate with a double.

Dublin pitcher Dylan Martinello threw a complete-game five hitter.

"To tell the truth, it's hard to be upset by the loss because of what were we able to accomplish today (in regards to the playoffs)," Freitas said.

His initial group, made up of freshmen and sophomores, played junior varsity in the East Bay Athletic League for a season before making the ascension to varsity in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League last year without any seniors.

"There were only 560 students in the whole school that first year," Freitas said. "We had to play junior varsity with a lot of freshmen and then varsity last year with no seniors, it was tough."

Dougherty (13-7, 3-5 DFAL) travels to Alhambra on Tuesday before hosting Campolindo on Thursday next week. The Wildcats will finish the regular season the following week with games at Las Lomas and home against Acalanes.

——————————————————————————

Game 1

Dougherty Valley 5, Dublin 4

Dublin 000 020 200 000 00— 4 
Dougherty Valley 000 101 200 000 01— 5

W — Wilson. L — Cleric.

Game 2

Dougherty Valley (13-7, 3-5) 100 000 0— 1 5 1
Dublin (12-9, 5-4) 011 001 x— 3 5 3


DV (ab-r-h)— Ramos 4-1-1,Wilson 3-0-3, Medieros 3-0-0, Jackson 3-0-0, Pinkston 2-0-0, Roberts 2-0-0, Perez 3-0-0, Cardoza 2-0-0, Luda 1-0-0, Silvestre 3-0-1.
Dublin (ab-r-h)— Crittenden 3-0-0, Wynne 3-1-1, Mello 2-0-0, Mitchell 3-2-3, Hobson 3-0-1, Schaaf 2-0-0, Martinez 1-0-0, Popelar 3-0-0, Silky 2-0-0, Bueno 2-0-0.

Pitching 
Dougherty Valley
 — Wilson 5.2 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K; Jackson 0.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K.scotty 4.

Dublin — Martinelli IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K.

Batting 
2B — Mitchell (D) 3, Wilson (DV).

 


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