Pilots Postseason Run Ends in Semifinal

What had become an admirable run in the tail end of the BSAL slate and into the NCS playoffs, ended with a difficult 5-4 loss to Redwood Christian.  After building a 4-1 lead courtesy of of a Christopher Livingston two-RBI triple in the top of the third, the Pilots were unable to add on, and the visiting Eagles caught them in the later innings.

The team managed only three hits over than Livingston’s–an RBI double by Jon Dyer and an RBI single by Robert Hansen in the second and a single by Sean Harding in the seventh.  Despite the difficult performance with the bats, the Pilots had numerous opportunities to add to the early lead but were unable to cash in on eight free passes (seven walks and one hit batter) issues by Redwood Christian pitchers.

Senior starter Garrett Rich and relievers Nick Hassel and Matt Hermann put in quality work but a couple defensive lapses extended Redwood Christian innings and led to runs. 

The 2011 St. Joseph Notre Dame Pilots finished the season with a 17-12 overall record, which included a 10-6 mark in BSAL play, a runner-up finish in the BSAL tournament and, of course, a semifinal appearance in CIF-North Coast Section playoffs.

While it’s difficult to write this update knowing what could have been and that this season has come to a close, this blogger sincerely hopes that when the dust clears, these young men are able to recognize the work that they put in and the successes that they earned over the course of the spring.  To the seniors, we will certainly miss you but will always consider you a part of this program and encourage you to come back and see us as often as possible.  To the underclassmen who are returning, this group has set the bar high.  Expectations are no longer moderate in this program.  Come back hungry and ready to answer the challenge.  This is your opportunity to rise to the occasion.  To the families and fans of SJND baseball (wherever y’all may be logging in from), thank you for your support of this team and these young men.  Go Pilots! 

Big Inning Looms Large as Pilots Drop BSAL Title Game

For everything that went right Thursday at Albany, a couple things went wrong Friday at Encinal, where the Pilots (1-1) dropped a lopsided league title game 16-4 to the host Jets. 

A couple mistakes opened the floodgates, as the Pilots surrendered 11 runs in the fourth inning, to fall behind 16-2.  The team answered with four in the top of the fifth, but with the deficit at 12, the game was called.

That’s the bad news.

However, the team plays on, as it has been ranked #5 in Division 5 and plays its first round game at #12 Fremont Christian.  (Why the #5 team in the division has to travel to play the #12 team on the road…your guess is as good as mine.)   Winner gets #4 Valley Christian of Dublin.

This new season starts Wednesday.  Four wins gets us a trophy.  Time to get to work.

Pilots Notch Upset Win, Will Play for League Tourney Title

The Pilots (1-0) jumped out early and didn’t look back, picking up a huge upset win over BSAL #1 seed Albany in Thursday’s league tournament opener.  Senior Billy Johnson got it going by depositing the game’s first pitch over the right field fence.  Seven runs, 12 hits and a brilliant pitching performance from senior Garrett Rich later, the pilots walked away with a 7-3 W.  Sean Harding finished with three hits, and Jon Dyer and Nikko DeGrano finished with two apiece.

The win sets up a rubber match at crosstown rival Encinal for a share of the BSAL title, a higher NCS ranking and island bragging rights.  The two teams split the regular season series, each winning lopsided affairs on the opponent’s home field.  When adding the scores, the series was tied at 24.  Here’s hoping for a pitcher’s duel.  Gametime is 3:45.  Be there!

Pilots Split Week Eight of BSAL Play

The final push into the playoffs is in full swing, as the Pilots (12-10, 8-6) bounced back nicely from a tough loss to Lick-Wilmerding last Saturday to split the week.  Wednesday’s game saw a dominant pitching performance from Matt Hermann, who tossed a complete game to finish the season sweep of Piedmont.  The 1-0 Pilot win took less than an hour and a half to play.  Hermann was economical and benefitted from sound defense, as he needed only 91 pitches to toss the complete game.

At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Friday’s game saw an offensive output that will not likely be duplicated.  Unfortunately, a furious comeback effort fell just short, as the Pilots droped a 9-8 decision at the launching pad known as Albany.  Seniors took center stage, as Garrett Rich threw well, working out of a number of jams with quality pitches but took the loss. 

Christopher Livingston finished the day 3-5 with a mammoth three-run homerun.  Billy Johnson and Sean Harding also jumped the yard in the top of the 7th, to bring the score to 9-8, but that’s as close as the Pilots would get. 

The team finishes out the regular season with Senior Day, the last regularly scheduled home game, against Kennedy on Wednesday.  The regular season comes to a close on the road at Salesian Friday.  As it stands now, the team is in contention to make the BSAL playoffs as the 4-seed, which makes the next two games critical.  A strong showing could have major implications on position in the NCS playoffs.

Pilots Drop Heartbreaker to Lick-Wilmerding

A back-and-forth Saturday affair went the way of visiting Lick-Wilmerding, as the Pilots (11-9, 7-5) left numerous opportunities–including two baserunners in the bottom of the 7th–on the field, in dropping the final scheduled regular season non-BSAL game.

The pitching staff surrendered 13 free passes between walks and hit batters, a number of them with two outs, and many of them came around to score.  Defense was a liability as well, as two costly errors created runs and opportunities for the opposition.

Still, the Pilot offense fought back on a couple occasions and almost pulled out the victory in the bottom of the 7th.  Leading the charge was leadoff hitter Nikko DeGrano, who tallied a pair of base hits and an inside-the-park home run.  Jon Dyer also chipped in with a pair of hits.

The team returns to action Wednesday at home against Piedmont.  Game time is 3:45.

Pilots Take Second Straight BSAL Beating

The Pilots’ (11-8, 7-5) two-game winning streak was short-lived, as in the team’s return to BSAL play went much like the last league game, but this time it was league leader Albany closing the game with 12 unanswered runs en route to a 13-1 win.  The blue and orange suffered from numerous defensive lapses and managed only three hits in the contest.

The team looks to right the ship Saturday in a non-league home game against Lick-Wilmerding.  Game time is noon.

And Down the Stretch they Come

Hope everyone had a lovely Holy Week culminating with a fantastic Easter celebration.  The Pilots (11-7, 7-4) went and partied in Modesto, splitting their four decisions in the Windemuth Easter Tournament. 

The boys return to action with a rare Thursday game–a reschedule of March’s weather-postponed home game against BSAL leader Albany.  Game time is 3:45.

Saturday also features a home date against Lick-Wilmerding, and gametime for this one has been moved up an hour to noon.  Take note, and players need to be there at 10:45.

It’s home stretch time…let’s get hot and finish strong!

Pilots Come Out Flat, Get Dominated at St. Pat’s

From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, the Pilots (9-5, 7-4) actually struck first with a run in the top of the first, but that was all they would get, as they surrendered nine unanswered runs in a road loss to St. Patrick/St. Vincent.

Starter Nick Hassel battled uncharacteristic control issues, hitting five batters and walking four in taking the loss.  The offense didn’t fare much better, producing only two hits–a single by Billy Johnson to lead off the game, and a two-strike drag bunt from Ollie Cunningham.  Johnson came around to score, but that would be all the Pilots would get.

The blue and orange returns to action Monday in the Windemuth Easter Tournament, with a 1:30 road game at Downey High School in Modesto.

Bonus Baseball as Pilots Prevail Against St. Mary’s

After clawing their way back from a 4-2 deficit in the sixth and exchanging zeros with visiting St. Mary’s in the seventh, the Pilots (9-4, 7-3) pushed across the game winner with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.

Kyle Walling got the inning going with a one-out double to the gap in left center.  After an intentional walk to Billy Johnson and a single from Ollie Cunningham, the bases were loaded for the middle of the order.  St. Mary’s starter Evan Giddings then got a strikeout for the second out but was unable to retire Jon Dyer, who plated Walling by reaching on an error.

Senior Garrett Rich picked up the win, pitching three innings of perfect relief of starter Matt Hermann.  Rich threw only 23 pitches and had one strikeout.  Hermann finished the day giving up four runs (three earned) on 10 hits with two walks.  He also had two strikeouts.

The Pilots return to action Friday, as they hit the road for Vallejo to take on St. Patrick/St. Vincent.

Pilots Jump Out Early, Bury Encinal

What a difference a few weeks makes.  After taking an absolute beating in the first game of the series, the Pilots (8-4, 6-3) brought the sticks out and answered back, picking off their crosstown rival Encinal 20-6.  Every starter had at least one of the team’s 17 hits, and the blue and orange scored at least one run in every inning.

The Pilots struck first with a leadoff double from Billy Johnson and capitalized on an error and a free pass before Nikko DeGrano struck the big blow with a two-run home run to push the lead to 4-0.  Encinal answered with one in the bottom of the frame, courtesy of a leadoff walk but would get nothing else until the game was out of reach.

After going a few games without the benefit of an extra base hit, the Pilots strung them together in bunches today, as Sean Harding went 2-4 with a double and a triple, and Christopher Livingston and Ollie Cunningham both finished 3-4 with a double.  DeGrano finished the day 3-6 with three RBI, and Johnson finished 2-3 with a double. 

Starter Matt Hermann, who also had a double, quietly put together an outstanding start, scattering seven hits and three walks over six innings to pick up the win.  He finished with three earned runs allowed and two strikeouts.

The win concludes a string of seven games in two weeks, which saw the Pilots finish 6-1 but a perfect 5-0 in BSAL contests.  The team gets a bit of a breather, as the program celebrates its history with the alumni game tomorrow morning at 11:30 a.m. at Upper Washington Park before it returns to BSAL action with St. Mary’s and St. Pat’s next week.