Smallball Dooms Drake in MCAL Baseball Finals

“We got bunted to death.”

No doubt, baseball coach envisioned possibly losing to top-seeded Marin Catholic in the finals of the Marin County Athletic League playoffs on Saturday.

But he never could have imagined uttering those five words that indeed aptly described the Pirates’ 5-1 loss to the Wildcats at Albert Park.

In a crazy fifth inning in which the ball only left the infield once, Marin Catholic parlayed two bunts, two Drake errors and two botched squeeze plays into a three-run rally that stunned the Pirates and their fans.

“Our defense has been a strength all year,” Farb noted in a state of disbelief afterward. “That team can sure bunt.”

By hitting the ball a total of about 180 feet after a sharp leadoff single in the fifth inning, the Wildcats were able to more than offset a 380-foot blast by Drake pitcher that had given the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the third.

But when the Pirates bobbled one bunt and didn’t know where to throw the ball after another, all of a sudden the Wildcats were threatening to get even – and more – with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth.

“It’s frustrating,” Kenilvort said of Drake’s inability to deal with Marin Catholic’s smallball tactics. “But you just focus on the next batter and try to get out of it.”

That’s exactly what Kenilvort had done twice earlier in the game. Marin Catholic also used bunts to move runners into scoring position in the first and third innings, but the Drake right-hander got key strikeouts to keep the top-seeded Wildcats off the board.

And he appeared to headed in that direction again in the fifth inning, but his full-count pitch to the Marin Catholic cleanup hitter was deemed to be slightly below the knees, forcing in the tying run.

The Wildcats attempted a squeeze bunt on the next pitch, but it was fouled back. Kenilvort went on to record another strikeout for the first out.

But Marin Catholic then took the lead for good when, following a ground ball to second base, a low throw to the plate gave the Wildcats a second run.

Then came the back-breaker. The bunt-happy Wildcats tried another squeeze on the next pitch, but Drake was ready and pitched out.

After a rundown, two runners appeared trapped on third base, but when one scampered back toward second, a throw got away and the runner from third was able to score the inning’s third run.

The craziness spelled the difference in a great pitchers’ duel between Kenilvort and Marin Catholic’s Al Geraldi.

“He was definitely on,” Kenilvort said of his rival, who struck out 14. “He had a pretty wicked curve ball. My hat’s off to him. He got what he deserved.”

And the Drake senior right-hander didn’t, his coach assured.

“That was one of his best games of the year,” Farb assured. “He pitched great.”

Kenilvort, who struck out eight in his complete-game effort, agreed.

“All of my stuff was there,” he said. “It was definitely one of my best games.”

The loss ended a nice run by the Pirates, who had to win twice – including over second-seeded San Marin on Friday – just to reach the finals. Now it’s on to the North Coast Section tournament, which announces its pairings Sunday.

“We’re disappointed, but we’re a good team,” Farb boasted. “We hope to make some noise next week.”