Pogoncheff Helps Drake Lead Off NCS With Win

As the leadoff hitter on a team known for its pitching, didn’t get a whole lot of opportunities to do damage with his bat this baseball season.

Sure, the speedy senior got on base his fair share of times and stole some bases. But rarely did he get a chance to be the hero with the bat.

Until Wednesday.

Pogoncheff belted a three-run home run early in the game and added an RBI single later on, providing all the runs would need to record a tough 4-3 win over Marin County Athletic League rival Tam in the first round of the North Coast Section Championships.

“He’s been a leader for our team all season,” Drake coach boasted. “He’s a guy who does all the things that don’t get written up. He bunts runners over, he gets on base, he takes pitchers deep into at-bats …

“Overall, this season has been frustrating in terms of batting average, but hugely productive in terms of what he does for our offense.”

, who has been injured most of the season, gave the Pirates three shutout innings against the Red-tailed Hawks, and reliever held off Tam the rest of the way. But in the end, there’s no doubt who the headline-grabber was on this day.

“It’s very satisfying to see him take center stage for a game and get the accolades he’s deserved throughout his career," Farb gushed.”

The victory vaulted sixth-seeded Drake into a road game at third-seeded Acalanes of Lafayette on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Farb admitted he knew little about the East Bay team.

“I think at this point you expect everybody you play to be good,” he said. “You know you have to show up and play a good ballgame. We have to play to our ability, whether we know something about the other team or not.

“We’re incredibly proud of the kids. I hope we can keep it going.”

The Pirates have two reasons for optimism: , who pitched brilliantly in Drake’s narrow loss to Marin Catholic in the MCAL finals on Saturday, is rested and ready to go, and the team’s offense, which supported Kenilvort with just one run in the title-game loss using wood bats, will have metal at their disposal Saturday.

“There’s definitely a difference, but I really don’t think it had an impact on (Wednesday’s) game,” Farb said of the metal bats. “Baseball is baseball. Maybe there’s a little more offensive focus now, but it doesn’t change the fundamentals of the game.”