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Through three innings the match-up between Aptos High ace Jordan Talbot and San Lorenzo Valley High senior flamethrower Tyler Gilbert was a true pitcher’s duel on April 17. However, the Mariner’s took home a 7-0 after things went awry in the fourth.
Gilbert allowed just one hit during the first three frames and Talbot, a University of California, Berkeley recruit also put up zeros.
During the stretch, third baseman Scott Petrowski and shortstop Jordan Peabody were a wall for the Cougar defense and senior Ricky Alves scooped up a diving line drive at second base and fired to first for a nice putout.
The fourth inning proved to be too much for Gilbert, as a bunt-single set in motion a 5-run rally for the Mariners that the Cougars could not overcome.
In the fifth the Cougars committed three errors and allowed back-to-back stolen bases off errant pitches, gave up two more runs before Cougar Head Coach Shane Sutcliffe brought in reliever Logan Nance.
Nance stopped the Mariner offensive but the damage had been done, and the Mariners put a strangle-hold on the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League lead with a 4-0 record. The Cougars dropped to 11-3 overall and 3-2 in league and are tied for second place with both Harbor and Soquel.
“These guys played a great game today but we just couldn’t get our bats going,” said Sutcliffe. “Our job is to keep rolling. Things like this are gonna happen. I don’t see any negatives in this game.”
Talbot allowed just one hit on the day, with 10 strikeouts, four walks and two hit batters. Mariner reliever Jacob Marino threw a perfect seventh.
The Cougars play next at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 20 at Harbor High and will have a chance to avenge a previous 4-3 loss to the Pirates.
Sound system working well
A state of the art sound system was donated to the San Lorenzo Valley baseball team by the family and friends of the late Ben Gutierrez, a pitcher on the 2002 SLV baseball team.
The system was installed last year and allows players and fans to enjoy crystal clear sound from a Harman Kardon sound system that was donated in the form of a collection taken at Gutierrez’ funeral in 2003.
“It is a neat story and a great way to remember a special kid,” said SLV head Coach Shane Sutcliffe. “Every time I hear that system turn on and see people jamming it is just something special.”
The sound system allows students like senior Nate Loofbourow to take on the announcing responsibilities at the games and lets the fans enjoy music during breaks in the games.
“The kids love having tunes during practice,” said former SLV Head Coach Ross Parmenter. “It’s an awesome way to keep the whole field’s tempo up and going.”
