BASEBALL: BHS Loses Big Lead, Falls in Bay Opener

The Score: Hillsdale 8, Burlingame 7.

The Star: Burlingame High designated hitter Coby Kelly went 3-for-4 in a Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division loss at Hillsdale on Wednesday. Kelly scored on a wild pitch in the second inning and picked up a pair of RBIs in a four-run third that gave the visiting Panthers an early 5-0 lead.

The Turning Point: Panthers starter Zac Grotz (four strikeouts and three walks) departed in the sixth holding a 5-3 lead after limiting Hillsdale to six hits, but then relievers Justin Kuh and Dean Aliamus surrendered five runs in the sixth as the Knights took an 8-5 lead. Burlingame rallied in the seventh as Saamy Phan drew a bases-loaded walk off Kody Barden and Nik Gutierrez grounded out to Barden’s replacement Robbie Foiles to plate another run. But with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Kelly struck out to end the game.

The Quote: “Everybody came out on fire, ready to go. Unfortunately we couldn’t hold the lead. Some errors led to some bad plays. We’ll be ready on Friday.” -- Burlingame outfielder Coby Kelly, on what led to the Panthers’ early lead and late collapse on Wednesday.

What’s Next? Hillsdale (6-2, 1-0 PAL Bay) and Burlingame (5-4, 0-1) meet Friday in the second half of the PAL Bay home-and-home series. The Panthers, defending co-champions in the PAL Bay, look to snap a three-game skid and pick up their first league win. First pitch is at 4 p.m.

The Bottom Line: Burlingame, which won the 2010 Central Coast Section Division II championship, has hit a rough patch early in the season. A sense of frustration hung in the air of the visitors’ dugout after the Panthers lost what looked to be an assured victory in the early innings. New head coach Shawn Scott’s focus on working the running game and hit-and-run continue to yield positive results though, so don’t expect Burlingame to struggle much longer.

Notes: Burlingame and Hillsdale split the season series 1-1 last year after the Knights made the jump from the PAL Ocean to the Bay. … The Panthers have outscored opponents 39-33 this season. … Burlingame starts the season as at least a co-champion of the PAL Bay for the fourth time in seven years. … Wednesday marked the Panthers’ first game since Mar. 11.

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Hillsdale 8, Burlingame 7

B 014 000 2 – 7 9 2

H 000 215 x – 8 11 2

WP: Sweeney (1-0). LP: J. Kuh (3-2). Save: Foiles

HR: Parker (H). 2B: Barden, Serrata, Kelly (H). 3 Hits: Kelly (B). 2 Hits: Blanton (B); Fajardo, Serrata (H). 3 RBI: Kelly (H). 2 RBI: Kelly, Phan (B); Parker (H).

Records: Hillsdale 6-2, 1-0 PAL Bay. Burlingame 5-4, 0-1.