It Takes 14 Innings, but JSerra Edges Great Oak in First Round of Playoffs

There is absolutely no doubt that Friday afternoon’s 14-inning showdown between JSerra and visiting Great Oak is destined to become one of the indelible images from the 2011 CIF Southern Section playoffs.

The Lions and Wolfpack fought for nearly four hours in their Division 1 first-round playoff game, exchanging blows like prize fighters who simply refused to hit the mat first. JSerra first baseman Nico Darras ultimately delivered the knockout punch, in the form of a one-out, game-winning single that scored junior Tyler Krause from second base to secure a 1-0 marathon victory for the fourth-seeded Lions (24-4).

"Today was really something special," JSerra starting shortstop Joey Ponder said. "It was battle between two teams that kept fighting and pushing through. Finally, we found a way to win. This is one to remember."

Great Oak (18-9) entered the contest as an undeniable underdog. The Wolfpack, who finished second in the Southwestern League, traveled from Temecula to take on the Trinity league’s runner-up. JSerra, tabbed a Division 1 favorite since spring training. The Lions defeated Great Oak on the road, 5-2, in the first round of the 2010 postseason.

An epic head-to-head pitching matchup ensued this time around between JSerra’s Keaton Siomkin and Great Oak’s Kyle Davis. The relentless right-handers refused to buckle on the season’s biggest stage so far, matching pivotal pitches and unshakable savvy throughout the afternoon. Siomkin and Davis — both seniors — each shined with a dominant display of wherewithal that lasted well beyond the usual frame of seven innings.

Davis, a UC Irvine commit, struck out nine and scattering three hits over his nine innings of work. Siomkin was every bit as sensational, shutting down the Wolpack’s potent lineup for 10 innings of three-hit ball. Siomkin struck out 10 during his gutsy effort and was so efficient that he didn’t reach the 100-pitch threshold until midway through the ninth inning.

“Keaton certainly was special,” Lions coach Brett Kay said. “I’ve pushed him hard lately and he’s thrown complete games in the past three games. He was able to keep his pitch count low, so we knew, being the kind of pitcher he is, that Keaton would be able to go through that 10-inning process. He’s a horse and today he was about as good as it gets.”

Added Ponder, who supplied a myriad of infield put-outs, "I've never seen a pitcher throw that many innings. It was incredible how well he pitched for so long. It's hard to describe the kind of performance he had out there."

Despite the big-game heroics of the senior hurlers, Friday’s clash lasted long after their respective exits. Stellar performances from both bullpens kept each team’s offensive attacks stifled. Great Oak reliever Angelo Lingos limited the Lions to four base runners in four innings of superb relief work before falling victim to JSerra’s 14-inning rally.

Juniors Bobby Hearn and Trevor Charpie picked up where Siomkin left off to piece together three innings on the mound.

The Lions received a major defensive lift in the 11th inning when outfielder Clay Williamson gunned own Great Oak leadoff hitter Austin Bailey at home plate for the second out of the inning. Bailey, who reached first base after being hit by a Hearn fastball at the top of the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and appeared destined to score the game’s first run when first baseman Clint Perez pounded a single into center field.

Williamson, a Cal State Fullerton commit, quickly fielded the ball and came up firing. The senior’s throw soared into the mit of JSerra catcher Austin Hedges, who held his ground in front of the plate and turned his body to apply an acrobatic tag on Bailey, who attempted to run wide of Hedges and reach around to touch the plate.

Hedges, who has dealt with effects of bronchitis over the past week, once again proved why he earned the 2010 Rawlings Defensive Player of the Year award and consideration as a top draft choice in the upcoming Major League Baseball amateur draft.

“Plays like that are what make Austin Hedges the best defensive player in the nation,” Kay said. “For Austin to play the way he did behind the plate for 14 innings is an absolute testament to him.”

The scoreless stalemate continued until the bottom of the 14th, when Krause led off the inning with a single of Lingos to left field. The junior advanced to second on a passed ball before rounding third and heading home for the decisive run when Darras snuck the game-winning single through the right side of the infield.

"Nico stepped up to the plate and had a huge at-bat,” Kay said. “He put a solid swing on the ball and found a hole. It was his turn to be a hero.”

Darras’ dramatic hit sends JSerra to the second round of the playoffs, where a meeting with JW North awaits. The Huskies (23-7) defeated Canyon, 8-1, on Friday. The game is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon and its location will be decided by a coin flip because each team hosted first-round contests.

“This was CIF playoffs at its best,” Kay said. “It was an amazing game and [Great Oak] is one of the best teams we’ve faced all year. This was an extremely-well pitched and well-defended game. I’m just so glad we were able to come out on top and continue playing.”