Baseball: Cox, Massoni Come Up Big in SRV Win

San Ramon Valley 3, Foothill 2

Records: San Ramon Valley 16-7, 9-4 EBAL; Foothill 17-6, 10-3 EBAL

The Star: Cameron Cox scored the eventual game-winning run in the seventh and preserved the win with a spectacular play at shortstopt end the game.

The Turning Point: Bobby Geren walked with two outs in the seventh to move Cox to second and bring Craig Massoni to the plate. Massoni singled to drive in Cox and the Wolves had their first lead of the game.

The Quote: "(Cox) has been rock-solid all year in the field," San Ramon coach Chris deClerq said. "If we could choose were they hit the ball, it'd be a ground ball to him every time."

Who's Next? San Ramon Valley is at Monte Vista on Friday, while Foothill is at Amador Valley.

The Bottom Line: Foothill falls a game behind Amador Valley in the EBAL standings. Amador got a walk-off home run from Chris Keck to beat Granada 7-6 in 9 innings of Wednesday. A win for Foothill would give the Falcons a piece of the EBAL title and lock up the league's automatic bid in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs. San Ramon Valley helped their resume for the NCS seeding committee, but can finish no higher than a second-place tie. 

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For a team that prides itself on keeping an even temperament from game-to-game, Wednesday's 3-2, come-from-behind win against Foothill had the San Ramon Valley baseball team fired up.

"That's a big win right there," senior Craig Massoni said. "It feels good to be on this side of one of these games, especially with one of the Pleasanton schools."

Massoni's single past the diving glove of Foothill third baseman Jake Jefferies in the top of the seventh scored Cameron Cox from second and gave the Wolves the 3-2 lead, its first of the game. (video of the play)

After starting pitcher Kyle Slinger worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, San Ramon coach Chris deClerq went to Jake Papavich to close it out in the seventh.

The junior righty made it interesting by walking Will Anderson and hitting Garrett Moore to start the inning. David Camarena's sacrifice bunt put runners and second and third before Matt Owen was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out.

Walking Owen paid off when Jefferies grounded to Massoni at first, who was able to come home to get the force out. With Brandon Defazio, who hit a two-run homer in the first, up next, the Wolves weren't out of the jam yet.

"If you make any mistakes with Defazio, he's going to hit it hard," deClerq said.

The Oregon State-bound senior did hit it hard, but Cox was able to range to his left at short, field the ball on a hop and spin to toss the ball to Donald Bedard at second to end the game. (video of the play)

 "(Cox) has been rock-solid all year in the field," San Ramon coach Chris deClerq said. "If we could choose were they hit the ball, it'd be a ground ball to him every time."

San Ramon hadn't faired well against the Pleasanton schools this year, which were tied atop the East Bay Athletic League standings going into the day. The Wolves lost their first meeting with Foothill 3-0 and gave away leads in two losses to Amador Valley.

"I think it'll help us get a better seed in the (North Coast Section Division I) playoffs," deClerq said. "But we're still going to treat it like it was any other game."

The Wolves will wrap up the regular season on Friday at rival Monte Vista, which beat De La Salle 11-2 on Wednedsay.

"We've been saying all year we're a championship-caliber team," Massoni said. "We just need to keep it going into playoffs."

Slinger was credited with the win after allowing two earned runs in six innings, while allowing four hits and striking out three. Popavich, whose performance was compared by teammates to something fans might see from San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson, picked up the save.

Fotohill starter Michael Theofanopolous didn't factor into the decision after allowing two runs and three hits in 5 1/3. Matt Owen was tagged with the loss.

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San Ramon Valley 3, Foothill 2

San Ramon Valley (9-4 EBAL) 010 001 1 — 3 5 1

Foothill (10-3) 200 000 0 — 2 4 1

SRV (AB-R-H) — Fishman 4-0-0, Cox 4-1-1, Bo.Geren 3-1-1, Massoni 3-1-1, Quinlan 3-0-0, Bedard 1-0-0, Love 2-0-1, Br.Geren 3-0-1, Dutto 3-0-0.

Foothill — Owen 3-0-1, Jefferies 4-1-1, Defazio 3-1-1, Theofanopolous 2-0-0, Rowland 3-0-0, Viceral 3-0-0, Anderson 2-0-1, Moore 2-0-0, Camarena 2-0-0.

Pitching

SRV — Slinger 6 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K; Papavich 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 0 K.

Foothill — Theofanopolous 5 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 6 K; Owen (L) 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K.

Batting

2B — Owen (F); HR — Defazio (F), 1st inn., 1 on. RBI — Defazio 2, Brett Geren (SRV), Love (SRV), Massoni (SRV). 

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EBAL standings

Amador Valley 11-2

Foothill 10-3

San Ramon Valley 9-4

California 7-6

Granada 6-8

De La Salle 4-9

Monte Vista 3-10

Livermore 3-11

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