Monte Vista Can't Hold Off Clayton Valley Comeback

As a baseball pitcher, it's essential to get run support. Rodrigo Morales of Concord's Clayton Valley High didn't just get it, he brought them in himself and recorded the win in the process.

Morales was the pitcher of record as he blasted a liner past diving Monte Vista third baseman Brien Beaman to drive in the winning run in walk-off fashion, capping off a three-run seventh inning comeback as the Mustangs fell in a heartbreaker to the Eagles 6-5 Friday night in Concord.

"I thought we played really hard," said Monte Vista coach Bill Piona. "Obviously, we didn't play perfect … I can't complain about the effort and that's all I can ask."

The Mustangs (2-3) padded a slim one-run advantage in the top of the seventh. Steven Kohlman started the inning off with a single and advanced to third before Brett Binning drove him in on a ground out to short for a 5-3 lead.

Monte Vista starter Craig Lanza pitched five and one-third innings giving up two runs on four hits, four walks, and four strikeouts.

"He's pitched well all year," Liona said. "He hasn't really given up any runs this year."

Lanza forced batters to ground out six times, something he was trying to do the entire game.

"I felt pretty good but there were a lot of good plays at the end. Everyone stepped up behind me," said Lanza. "I tried to pitch to bad contact on the bat to go longer in the game."

Clayton Valley (6-0) faced a two-run deficit heading into the bottom half of the final frame, when Jeff Doran hit the second pitch of the at bat to the warning track in deep right-center for a leadoff double. Pinch-hitter Darrien Matthews then lined a single on a full count to drive in Doran. Johnny Bekakis's grounder scored Matthews to tie the game. After back-to-back walks, Morales hit a fastball on a 0-1 count to win the game.

"To be honest, I was looking for a fastball and then he gave me a fastball and I hit it up the middle," Morales said. "I'd like to thank god. God gave me that one."

Morales was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and the game-winning RBI and gave up one run on two hits in the top of the seventh.

"We got those four hits in the seventh inning and that made the difference," said Clayton Valley head coach Bob Ralston. "Monte Vista has very strong pitching and they're going to play a low-scoring game.

The Mustangs were first on the scoreboard, starting in the third inning. J.B. Harrell and Ryan Lacy hit a pair of back-to-back singles before Nate Castiglioni grounded out to bring in Lacy for an early 1-0 lead.

The Eagles responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third. After Matt Burger was hit by a pitch that brushed the top of his helmet, Stephens hit a single, and Bekakis hit a liner over Lacy at second base to drive in Burger.

Monte Vista retook the lead in the fifth inning. With two outs, Steve Kohlman hit a blooper along the first base side which Doran dropped, allowing Harrell to score. Beaman then hit a double to score Meadows, who reached base on a single, to give the Mustangs a 4-2 lead after five.

The Mustangs host Stockton's St. Mary's High, Saturday at 1 p.m.