The Grizzlies pursuit of an NCS berth nearly slipped away after the varsity baseball team lost its final four games.
But Cal’s 7-7 record in the tough EBAL, and 14-9 overall record, was good enough to earn the Grizzlies a No. 5 seed in the Division I playoffs.
Cal led No. 12 Castro Valley 5-0 through four innings in its first round game on Tuesday behind three home runs. Final results were not available before The Californian went to press.
The winner of the game plays at No. 4 Bishop O’Dowd on Friday.
The Grizzlies lost their fourth straight game on Friday in the season finale at league champion De La Salle.
After taking a 8-2 lead with a six-run sixth inning, the Grizzlies gave up seven runs over the final two innings to lose a heartbreaker, 9-8. It was Cal’s fourth straight loss by one run.
The Grizzlies lost to Granada, Livermore and San Ramon Valley, all by the score of 5-4, over the season’s final weeks.
The Grizzlies’ losing streak followed a four-game win streak that was capped by a 2-1 victory over Monte Vista on May 4, putting the Grizzlies in a tie for first place with De La Salle.
Senior captain Kyle Gallegos pitched a complete game shutout with six strikeouts in the win over Monte Vista. Senior Anthony Mignano hit the game-winning triple in the bottom of the sixth making the score 2-1.
The Grizzlies beat Foothill at home 4-3 on April 29. Senior Jason Kochan started the game and got the win, improving his record to 5-3. He also doubled.
Sophomore Steven Moen and senior Casey Hazen both went 2-3 at the plate.
“Jason pitched a really good game,” said coach Brian Coburn. “Then Kyle came in and got the save.”
Cal played Castro Valley on April 25, winning the game 7-0. The game got a good start when Kyle hit a three-run home run in the first inning. The Grizzlies added two more runs in the fourth and fifth innings to set the final score.
“The home run was lucky,” said Kyle. “I was happy we weren’t home because it wouldn’t have gone out.”
Junior Chris Wingard started the game and got his first varsity win.
Cal beat host Amador 3-2 on April 24 behind Kyle’s complete game three-hitter.The Grizzlies took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning only to lose the lead in the bottom of the inning 2-1.
Cal regained the lead in the third, adding two more runs to make the score 3-2.
“My defense helped me out a lot,” said Kyle. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”
As for individuals on the team, Kyle is having an extraordinary year.
“I think he (Kyle) is the most underrated player in the Bay Area,” said Coburn.