BASEBALL: Milpitas Holds On Against Gunn

The Score: Milpitas 6, Gunn 5

The Star: Milpitas senior Mario Garay took part in a game he’ll surely never forget. The senior was clutch in this exciting El Camino thriller as he went 1-for-3 with three RBIs on Senior Day Thursday afternoon at Milpitas High.

Gunn senior Miles Sturken tried to play spoiler on Milpitas’ parade as he went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. He also pitched four-plus innings of solid ball for the Titans with two strikeouts.

The Trojans celebrated the achievements of their eight seniors prior to the game before rallying late in their last home game of the season.

The Turning Point: Gunn (13-11-1, 8-7 ECL) hardly looked like a team that that had dropped the first two meetings against Milpitas (17-7-1, 11-4 ECL) already this season as they took the early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Sturken ripped a hard line RBI single down the line to score the opening run of the day for the Titans. Sturken also looked comfortable on the mound as he quickly breezed by the Trojan lineup. The gusty winds also gave the starting pitcher some help, reducing several fly balls into long outs deep in the park.

The Trojans came alive in the bottom of the third trailing by one, 2-1. Garay stepped inside the box and delivered a two-out, two run chopper over the third baseman’s head to put the Trojans ahead 3-2. However, the lead was short lived as the Titans answered back with their own two-run inning to take a 4-3 advantage.

The see-saw battle continued in the fifth as the home team pushed three runs across to take the 6-4 lead behind Garay’s third RBI of the game. With the Titans season almost to an end in the top of the seventh, Sturken decided to pop some life into the Gunn dugout with a deep RBI triple to center field scoring teammate Jack Hannan. Gunn would get the tying run to third, but couldn’t even things up as the tying run was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the frame. Milpitas pitcher Ronnie Reed closed out the game with a strikeout to lock up the hard fought Milpitas victory.

The Quotes: “It’s good to come out with a win especially our last home game of the season,” said Milpitas Garay on today’s exciting win on Senior Day.

“It’s always a special day when you see your team come out and play like they did on Senior Day,” said Milpitas Head Coach Chuy Zamudio.

Gunn head coach Troy de Vincente enjoyed the hard fought SCVAL El Camino battle despite his team coming out without the victory.

“My pitching staff (Sturken and Fisher) played their butts off,” said Gunn Head Coach Troy de Vincente on today’s tough loss against El Camino foe Milpitas. “Looking forward to next season---since we’re junior heavy, my whole pitching staff will be returning except for one (Sturken).”

What’s Next? With the season to an end, Milpitas will find out on Saturday on their seeding for the CCS playoffs that begin next week.

Bottom Line: Milpitas rolls into the CSS playoffs with a three-game winning streak and will compete in the Division I bracket. A veteran team that also has a nice blend of young players in the fold, Milpitas will be a dangerous group for whoever draws them in round one next Wednesday or Thursday.

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 Gunn      2 0 0 2 0 0 1      5  9  1

Milpitas  0 0 3 0 3 0 0     6  6   1

WP: Reed   LP: Sturken