BASEBALL: Late Game Heroics Push Los Gatos Past Aptos

Los Gatos 3, Aptos 2

The Star: Los Gatos High head baseball coach Mike Denevi had already made up his mind about who he was going to name as his Player of the Week going into the non-leage matchup with Aptos High. Just in case there was any last minute waffling, Los Gatos senior Kevin Brogan solidified his position with another big swing.

Brogan beat out an infield single with the bases loaded and two away in the bottom of the seventh to give the surging Los Gatos squad a dramatic 3-2 walk-off victory over Aptos High Saturday afternoon in Los Gatos.

After an intentional walk to team captain and Santa Clara University bound Tyler Olivet, Brogan stepped up to the plate with the game all even at two. The senior struck a tough pitch into the hole at short, giving himself enough wiggle room to beat out the deep throw. Brogan, along with his team, has been on an absolute tear over the past eight days.

During the stretch of games between April 1 to April 9, Brogan has compiled some gaudy numbers. The slugger has gone 9-for-17 (.529) with 11 RBIs, two homers, nine runs, one double and two triples over the past week. Los Gatos has gone 6-0 since a 7-1 loss against Palo Alto on March 30, including a 7-5 win against Paly on April 1.

 The Turning Point: An inning before he cleared the dugout with a walk-off RBI single, Brogan started off the comeback by taking an inside pitch off his back. The hit by pitch eventually led to a clutch sacrifice fly to deep left by Curtis Breidenthal that scored Brogan from third and tied things up at two.

One inning later, it was Peter Danna that got things going for the host ‘Cats. Danna lined a single into left field then Vince Augustine drew a walk to put a pair of runners aboard in the bottom of the seventh with nobody out.

Three batters later, Brogan finished off the rally with the infield hit.

The Quote: “ I was just looking to hit anything I could hard,” Brogan said about his mindset going into the key bases loaded at-bat in the seventh. “I just wanted to make sure I slowed everything down.”

 Some advice from a teammate towards to end of last month stuck with the senior hitter--so much so that he writes it down on his arm before every game.

 “Before every game I write 'hands back' on my arm,” Brogan said. “I’m superstitious. It feels amazing to be on a streak like this.  I don’t want it to stop.”

 The Los Gatos High head coach is enjoying the run as well, especially the output from Brogan.

 “He’s just been unbelievable,” Denevi said. “We’re on a roll right now. He’s been the right guy in the right spot for us. They didn’t want to pitch to Olivet, who’s a Division I prospect, so Kevin (Brogan) got a chance to come through for us again today and he did.”

 What's Next? Los Gatos (14-4-1, 7-3 De Anza) hosts Downey High-Modesto in a non-league game on Monday afternoon before resuming Santa Clara Valley Athletic league De Anza Division play on Wednesday at Homestead High in Cupertino.

Bottom Line: These ‘Cats won’t be an easy out for anyone standing in their way down the final stretch of the 2011 campaign. Loaded with veterans up-and-down lineup and stocked with a healthy stable of pitching arms, Los Gatos will battle it out with the top half of the De Anza division down until final day of the regular season. Los Gatos, Los Altos, Wilcox and Palo Alto all sit within two games of each other after the first week of April.

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Los Gatos 3, Aptos 2

LG- 0 0 0 1 0 1 1- 3 4 1

AP-0 0 1 0 1 0 0 – 2 5 1

WP: Corey. LP: Glaum

Records: LG 14-4-1, 7-3 De Anza. AP 6-5, 3-1 SCCAL.