20 May El Cerrito Capitalizes on De Anza Mistakes for Varsity Baseball Title

The El Cerrito High Gauchos score one of their three runs en route to a Tri-County-Rock League title on Friday.

Story and photos by Joe Porrello

El Cerrito High (19-7) shut out De Anza High (5-15-1) Friday by a score of 3-0 in front of about 100 fans at Cerrito Vista Park for the Tri-County-Rock League championship.

The Dons managed only four baserunners and no extra base hits, while the Gauchos collected eight hits from seven different players.

 

El Cerrito High entered as a No. 2 seed against fifth-seeded De Anza — who had not won back-to-back games all year until an unexpected postseason push.

De Anza upset No. 4 seed St. Mary’s High in round one before a semifinals bout in which the Dons handed top-seeded Pinole Valley High their first intraleague loss of the season.

“We cleaned things up when it mattered most, and I’m proud of these guys for putting themselves in this position,” said Dons first-year head coach Jeron Davis. 

Undefeated for over a month with seven straight wins coming by a combined score of 48-11, the Gauchos’ only losses over their previous dozen games came courtesy of Pinole Valley High. 

The Gauchos’ first chance at runs Friday came with a pair of second-inning singles, but their scoring threat was halted by an overzealous baserunner thrown out to end the frame.

El Cerrito did break open the scoring in the third inning, as junior Kamal Bhatt laced a double and crossed home plate after two wild pitches — for his team-leading 27th run. He tops the TCRL in stolen bases, with 30.

 

The Gauchos tacked on another run using their wheels in the ensuing frame, as sophomore pinch-runner Owen Miller stole two bags before scoring from third base when the Dons opted to throw out a potential base stealer at second, conceding the run.

Adding an insurance run in the fifth inning and scoring for a third straight frame, El Cerrito High took advantage of a Dons throwing error that allowed a Gaucho to reach second base. Senior Warren Lieu brought him in with an RBI double to make the score 3-0, where it stayed.

 

Lieu has his team’s only home run of the season and the TCRL’s lowest ERA (1.00).

Sophomore El Cerrito starting pitcher Jackson Beebout followed Lieu’s double by notching his sixth strikeout in as many innings. 

“He’s a consummate workhorse for us, and when he wants something, he’s going to put his head down and go get it,” said Gauchos first year-head coach Wayne Chin.

 

Lieu echoed his coach. “He’s only a sophomore, but he’s pitching like he’s been here his whole life,” he said.

Beebout and Lieu are part of a daunting pitching staff with a team ERA of 1.58 — compared with the national average of 5.45 — and the three best ERAs in the TCRL.

“Top to bottom, we got dogs,” Beebout said of his fellow hurlers.

At No. 3 in the TCRL with his 1.57 ERA, Beebout retired the last seven batters he faced and earned the win while going the distance — surrendering just two hits, allowing no walks and inducing nine groundouts.

 

“It was incredible; as a sophomore, just to be playing out here is an honor in itself,” he said. “My off-speed has always been my bread and butter, and that was working for me today.”

But Beebout didn’t take all the credit.

“We have the best defense in the bay. I wouldn’t rather have anyone else behind me,” he said. “It’s been a fun ride all year, and I love my guys.”

 

When the last out was made, the Gauchos convened at the mound, jumping and tossing their hats and gloves skyward. And De Anza had their own postgame elation, finding out they squeaked out a spot in the North Coast Division 5 sectionals despite failing to score.

Dons 6-foot-4 and 205-pound senior Ty Wilson typically boosts his team’s offense and defense but unusually never reached base Friday, going 0-3. He leads the TCRL with a .467 batting average and .711 slugging percentage, along with pacing his team in RBIs (20), on base percentage (.564) and home runs (3). On the bump, Wilson also tops De Anza in ERA (2.80) and strikeouts (54) — but only pitched two innings of relief Friday after recently starting.

“The key was just timely hits not coming for us and balls hit right at guys,” said Davis. 

 

Shut out for the third time, De Anza has gone 3-8 in league play while being collectively outscored by more than double, eclipsing double figures just once and allowing over ten runs on eight occasions. 

Conversely, El Cerrito High is 9-2 in league play and has outscored opponents by more than double, reaching double figures six times and never surrendering over 10 runs.

Defending their home field as usual, the Gauchos have only one loss in El Cerrito on the year.

Coming off three consecutive winning seasons, the Dons have their worst overall record in eight years but still managed a deep postseason run.

 

“Their approach to this season in carrying the load has been workman-like and we’re trying to end their high school careers right,” said Davis. “Their fortitude, toughness and grit got them through; we weren’t expecting to be here.”

And El Cerrito didn’t anticipate a long playoff push themselves, on the heels of their first full losing season in five years.

“This was initially a year of rebuilding but seems to be a year of resurgence,” said Chin.

Joining the Gauchos in triumph was the El Cerrito High varsity softball team, who won their own league title game just down the road against Hercules High, 11-1.

 

Uniting with their baseball team for a revived season, the Gauchos softball squad outscored opponents by an average of 13, went undefeated in league play and won 19 games for the first time in school history — after not having a winning season in three years.

“Me and my friends have been here for four years and it’s been a bumpy road for both teams, so it’s super cool to be able to bring home league titles on the same day at home,” said Gauchos softball senior captain Courtney Miles. “Even last year when we were getting blown out a lot, we stayed positive, and it finally turned into wins.”

 

Pitching the last four innings for her team in the title game, Miles averages over two strikeouts per frame and is second on the team in 10 statistical categories.

Her teammate and fellow captain Arlie Tatum — who leads the team in 10 categories as a freshman — reached base in all four plate appearances and ended the game an inning early with a walkoff mercy rule home run.

“I was really excited after we won to get over here and hopefully celebrate together,” Tatum said.

Her 10 home runs are eight more than any of her teammates, her .757 batting average is 247 points above the next-highest Gaucho, and she ranks in the top 20 of four categories statewide, including being No. 2 in runs with 60. In 86 plate appearances this season, she has yet to strike out.

Also like their male counterparts, El Cerrito High softball is anchored by a pitching staff that holds a collective 1.73 ERA — compared with a 6.93 national average.

“I feel great about what our girls have achieved this year,” said Gauchos sixth-year head coach Jovan Wright. “They’re starting to make adjustments without us having to tell them and that’s so fulfilling as a coach — it’s like seeing your kids grow up.”

Next Up

Earning a No. 4 seed in the NCS D3 sectionals, El Cerrito High baseball opposes No. 13 San Rafael High (13-13) on Tuesday.

“If we continue to play tight and together as a family like we are now, we can go far,” said Chin.

On Wednesday, the No. 7 seed Gauchos softball team takes on No. 10 Las Lomas (13-8) in the NCS D4 sectionals.

“We haven’t been to the NCS in a long time but we’re up to the challenge and will come out competitive,” said Wright.

No. 10 De Anza High will face off with No. 7 Branson High in the NCS D5 sectionals on Tuesday at the College of Marin.

“Hearing we still got one more left in the tank really empowered me because I love this game,” said Miles. “Every time I step on the field I feel blessed to play the game I’ve loved since I was a little kid… you never know when your last game is going to come.”