Viewpoint's Roll Runs Out Quickly in CIF Playoffs

The Viewpoint School Patriots were unable to ride the momentum generated at the end of the regular season when they won eight in a row and a share of the Liberty League championship, falling 5-1 to Crossroads on Friday in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 6 playoffs.

Crossroads pitcher Holden Miller kept the Patriots' bats in check as he allowed just five hits and one run in five innings.

"We knew we were going to have to swing the bats well today to win, and it just wasn't our day," coach Frank Pontello said. "I thought we were ready. We played them closer in the regular season [a 5-3 loss] and in the playoffs you have to be hot and play mistake-free baseball and we were unable to do that."

After two scoreless innings to begin the game, senior left-hander Gil Broski was in a tough spot after he walked No. 9 hitter Kyle Yoo with one out. 

Yoo then attempted to steal second and catcher Aaron Twersky's throw went into the outfield, allowing the runner to make it to third easily. Broski was able to get a second out on a grounder by Andres Leyva, but the Roadrunners' Brian Rosen hit the ball softly to second base and Andrew Leon was unable to get the out at first, allowing Yoo to cross the plate for the first run of the game. 

Matt Robinson then hit a ball to the right field where Josh Masser made a diving attempt, but was unable to come up with the ball, allowing Rosen to score all the way from first. Jake Berg-Rosenblatt doubled to right to bring in Robinson and give the Roadrunners a 3-0 lead.  Josh Flyer grounded to Broski to end the inning.

"We just didn't have our game today. We're usually more solid on defense and they got hits where we didn't," said Broski, who is headed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. "We had a really good season and finished strong. They were just much better than us today."

The Patriots had runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but were unable to generate any runs from the opportunities.

"Crossroads should go far," said junior Tyler Sprague, who doubled in the third inning for one of the Patriots' five hits. "We couldn't really move anyone around. For whatever reason we didn't come out strong." The first basemen will help lead the Patriots into next season, as they will need to replace only four regulars.

Blake Pontello walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch to open the fifth, when the Patriots would score their only run.  Evan Keyser grounded out to the shortstop to get Pontello to third and he would score on an Adam Markun sacrifice fly.

The Roadrunners would tack on runs in the fifth and six innings, taking advantage of strong pitching from Miller and some errant Patriot throws and missteps in the field.

The Patriots came into the game 8-0 on the road, but committed four costly errors. 

"That was by far the most trouble we've had in the field. We have played mostly error-free baseball this season," Pontello said.