Baseball: Theofanopolous' Walk-Off Double Sends Foothill to NCS Championship

North Coast Section Division I semifinal

Foothill 3, California 2

Records: Foothill 20-7, Cal 14-12-1

The Star: Foothill's Will Anderson threw his second complete-game in five days to send Foothill to its first NCS championship game in school history. He scattered six hits, struck out five and got stronger as the game went along.

The Turning Point: In the most important at bat of his high school career, senior Michael Theofanopolous hit a two-run double to the gap in left center to give Foothill a walk-off win.

The Quote: "It really was the right man in the right spot," Foothill coach Angelo Scavone said of Theofanopolous' hit. "It's kind of what you expect from your three-year varsity senior who is going to Cal."

What's Next? Foothill plays rival Amador Valley on Saturday at Dougherty Valley, at 4 p.m.

The Bottom Line: The Falcons didn't lead until Theofanopolous' game-winner in the seventh, but Anderson and good defense — including a run-saving catch by center fielder Matt Owen — kept Foothill in the game. Foothill was swept by Amador Valley during the regular season and has lost five-straight to its cross town rival.

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Michael Theofanopolous has come through plenty of times in his three years with the Foothill High varsity baseball team, but nothing tops what he did Wednesday.

With the Falcons trailing California 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh of the North Coast Section Division I semifinals, he laced a one-out double to the gap in left center to score Matt Owen and Brandon Defazio to give Foothill a 3-2 win.

"A lot of times guys will come up in that situation and just try to hit a home run," Theofanopolous said. "I just wanted to stay relaxed and try to drive the run in from second."

Owen made sure it was in the gap before coming around to score, but Defazio read it well off that bat and was right behind Owen as the Foothill dugout emptied in celebration at home plate.

"It really was the right man in the right spot," Foothill coach Angelo Scavone said. "It's kind of what you expect from your three-year varsity senior who is going to Cal."

The win secures the Falcons a berth in their first NCS baseball championship in school history and guarantees a title for the city of Pleasanton as top-seeded Amador Valley took care of James Logan 5-1 across town in the other semifinal.

Amador has won the last five meetings between the two schools, a streak Foothill will try to end Saturday at 4 p.m. at Dougherty Valley High in San Ramon.

"We all wanted Amador again," said Theofanopolous, who will start on the mound for Foothill. "I know a lot of their hitters, so it'll be a fun match up."

Until Theofanopolous' heroics in the seventh, the Foothill bats were silent for most the game. Aside from Cameron Rowland's opposite-field homer to right in the second to tie the score 1-1, the Falcons had a tough time with Cal starter Chris Wingard. The senior lefty allowed five hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings of work.

"His fastball really gets on you quick because of his slow delivery," Theofanopolous said. "I was kind of surprised when he got taken out."

Cal coach Dan Ward said Wingard was tiring down the stretch and felt comfortable with sophomore Eric Tu coming out of the bullpen. Tu came in with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth before getting a ground ball to end the Foothill threat.

"Credit Eric for coming in and getting that out," Ward said. "I have a lot of confidence in him and felt we had as good a shot as anyone with him in the game."

After Cal went three-up, three-down in the seventh, Foothill wasted no time putting a rally together in its last at-bat.

Owen led off with a single and was bunted to second by Jake Jefferies to give Oregon State-bound senior Brandon Defazio a shot to tie the game. Defazio made it to first after scorching a grounder to third, which Cal's Thomas Peter took off his chest — setting the stage for Theofanopolous to end the game.

Foothill pitcher Will Anderson, pitching on four days rest after labored through the first few innings, but got stronger as the game went along. He allowed an RBI single from Michael Smith in the second and hit a batter before walking three more to give Cal its other run in the third.

The Grizzlies didn't get a runner past second the rest of the game, thanks largely to a flawless defensive performance by Foothill.

With a runner on second and two outs in the fourth, Owen quite possibly saved the game for the Falcons. His running catch in center field on a line shot by Cal's Rudy Leon saved a run and seemed to turn the game's momentum.

Foothill has become accustomed to plays like that from Owen.

"Matt Owen is one of the top-five baseball players I've ever coached," Scavone said. "When I say that I mean he can do it all with no preparation. He can pitch; he can play second, third, short or the outfield. He's one of the best players in the league."

Anderson said he was a little worried about how he'd respond pitching on four days rest, but treated in like any other game.

"It was in the back of my head," the Fresno State-bound pitcher said. "But you just got to believe in your stuff."

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Foothill 3, Cal 2

Cal (14-12-1) 011 000 0 — 2 6 3
Foothill (20-7) 010 000 2 — 3 8 0

Cal (ab-r-h) — Leon 3-0-0, Hayden 4-0-1, Moen 4-0-0, Peter 2-1-1, Smith 2-0-1, Kochan 3-0-0, Guardino 3-0-2, Truex 2-0-0, Sarmenta 2-1-1.
Foothill — Owen 4-1-1, Jefferies 3-1-0, Defazio 4-0-2, Theofanopolous 3-0-1, Viceral 2-0-0, Rowland 3-1-1, Anderson 2-0-2, Moore 3-0-1, Camarena 3-0-0.

Pitching
Cal — Wingard 5 2/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 BB; Tu (L) 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 K, 0 BB.
Foothill — Anderson (W) 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 K, 3 BB.

Batting
2B — Sarmenta (C), Theofanopolous (F). HR — Rowland (F). RBI — Theofanopolous (F) 2, Rowland (F), Smith (C) 2.

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