BASEBALL: Big Comeback Powers Hillsdale in Opener

The Score: Hillsdale 8, Burlingame 7.

The Star: Hillsdale High reliever Michael Sweeney took the mound Wednesday in the fourth inning with the host Knights trailing 5-0 in their Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division opener. Though the junior sidewinder’s scoreless streak this spring would come to an end, Sweeney departed as the pitcher of record after allowing only two Burlingame runs in the seventh. Sweeney’s shutdown relief effort, surrendering two hits while adding two strikeouts, allowed Hillsdale to take the lead with a five-run rally in the sixth. “Without him, we probably don’t win that game,” said catcher Austin Parker.

The Turning Point: Hillsdale showed early rust, reasonable for a team limited to only handful of practices outside due to rain since its last game Mar. 16, committing two errors and uncorking a wild pitch that contributed to a 5-0 deficit at the end of the third frame. The Knights, hitting .290 as a team entering the day, were held to one hit over the front three before breaking out for two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and five in the sixth to hold a 8-5 edge. Senior Austin Parker homered deep to left-center with two outs to open the five-run onslaught, also plating teammate Kody Barden. “I got the pitch I wanted and just drove it,” said Parker. Nick Serrata knocked in a run and Tyler Kelly chipped in two RBIs in the inning on a double in the gap.

The Quote: “I just wanted to do anything I could to help my team win. Today, everything was just working. This win gives us momentum. It starts today and it keeps us rolling. Hopefully we can take it all the way to CCS.” -- Hillsdale pitcher Michael Sweeney, on his game-saving performance to open the PAL Bay season.

What’s Next? Hillsdale (6-2, 1-0 PAL Bay) visits Burlingame (5-4, 0-1) Friday in the second half of the PAL Bay home-and-home series, with the 2010 Central Coast Section Division III runner-up Knights looking to pick up another win over the defending CCS Division II champion Panthers. First pitch is at 4 p.m.

The Bottom Line: Hillsdale, the only Division III team in the Division II-laden PAL Bay, came one win shy of taking the section crown last season. With returning starters Kory Barden, Eddie Pagano and Armando Fajardo and contributions from Serra transfer Parker and Bellarmine transfer Robbie Foiles, the Knights could very well find themselves making a run at the CCS title again this season.

Notes: Due to the inclement weather, Wednesday’s game served as the de facto league opener for both squads as Hillsdale’s series with El Camino was rained out. … Winning pitcher Michael Sweeney had pitched six innings this season over four appearances before surrendering his first run Wednesday. The win was the first of the season for Sweeney. … Burlingame and Hillsdale split the season series 1-1 last year after the Knights made the jump from the PAL Ocean to the Bay.

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Hillsdale 8, Burlingame 7

B 014 000 2 – 7 9 2

H 000 215 x – 8 11 2

WP: Sweeney (1-0). LP: J. Kuh (3-2). Save: Foiles

HR: Parker (H). 2B: Barden, Serrata, Kelly (H). 3 Hits: Kelly (B). 2 Hits: Blanton (B); Fajardo, Serrata (H). 3 RBI: Kelly (H). 2 RBI: Kelly, Phan (B); Parker (H).

Records: Hillsdale 6-2, 1-0 PAL Bay. Burlingame 5-4, 0-1.