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5/21/19

NOTE: This is a straight-forward game recap in a unique manner, any scouting notes/stats/extended videos for players from this game can be found within their profiles.

CONCORD, CA - De La Salle has advanced to the NCS D1 Finals on Saturday May 25th vs either Heritage HS or Amador Valley HS, who will play their semi-final today at 5:00. The win was their 28th of the season and 27th in a row (28-1), it's their 9th consecutive NCS final. The Spartans have won five of those finals, the last three in a row. To say it's been an impressive run is clearly an understatement.

When a particular program goes on a run like they have, often there are some factors that may not be considered. I do believe that good competition breeds strength. For De La Salle, it's both the non-conference schedule they play each year and also the quality competition in their own league, the East Bay Athletic League. To get to this game they defeated a league rival, Monte Vista HS. In this game, they defeated another league rival, Foothill HS (finishes season 20-8) and if Amador Valley advances to the final, two EBAL schools will face off the the NCS D1 title.

This game didn't have the suspense that the Monte Vista/De La Salle game did, as DLS won 7-3. However, it did start a bit auspiciously for the Spartans as Foothill jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning. For the second game in a row De La Salle trailed after the 1st inning and for the second game in a row, it didn't matter.

The whole Spartan line-up contributed in this one, but it was a home run by 2020 Charles McAdoo that turned the momentum in their favor. He had the 2-run double to drive in the only runs for DLS in the victory over Monte Vista and when his homer cleared the right centerfield fence he had driven in four of the five De La Salle runs in the last two games. After his shot tied tied the game, the rest of the offense just kept coming at Foothill. Here are the team wide contributions, both offensively and defensively...

2B 2019 Nick Fusari (LMU commit) - lead off single in 1st inning and scored their first run that inning. Also walked, and later singled (driving in a run in the 3-run 6th inning) and scored again. Also made a good play on a difficult ground ball up the middle that he kept from getting to the outfield and that stopped a run from scoring in what was still a tight game in the top of the 6th.

RF 2021 Blake Burke - After a tough start to the game when he overran a singled to right that allowed the second run to score in that 3-run Foothill first inning, he went on to have a nice offensive game, doubling and scoring in the 5th inning and then singling again in the 6th.

3B 2019 Chris Santiago (St. Mary's commit) - Drove in first run with a ground out to shortstop, later walked and then drove in the 7th DLS run with a single in the 6th inning. Also made a great defensive play in the 4th inning, diving up the 3rd base line and firing a one hop strike across the diamond.

1B 2020 Kyle Harrison (UCLA commit) - Did not have any hits to show for his day though did hit the ball hard. His sac bunt in the 5th inning put runners at 2nd and 3rd and the runner at 3rd was driven home by a sacrifice fly by...

C 2019 Jared Amigh (Pacific commit) - His fly ball into foul territory down the left field line scored the aforementioned runner from 3rd base. He also singled to lead off the 3rd inning and had a key defensive play when he back picked a runner off second base with one out in the 4th inning.

SS 2020 Vince Bianchina (Northwestern commit) - Did make an error in the top of the 1st inning that allowed a run to score but he bounced back to single twice. Didn't score or drive in any runs but he certainly contributed to making the line-up very difficult for Foothill starting pitcher Josh Robinson to navigate.

LF 2020 Keoni Coloma - The bottom of the DLS line-up scored four of the seven runs, with Coloma scoring two of them. He doubled in the 2nd inning then twice reached via fielder's choice and scored both times. One wasn't a particularly good sac bunt attempt as the runner he was trying to move over was thrown out at 2nd, but regardless, he came around to score two runs, once on a wild pitch.

DH 2020 Charles McAdoo - His 2-run homer tied the game at 3-3 and as stated, changed the momentum. Foothill had great energy and that 3-1 lead looked pretty healthy, but with two outs McAdoo went over the wall when to rode a high fastball out to right centerfield. It was the very pitch he had struck out on in the 2nd inning. 

CF 2019 Jordan Wright (Chapman U commit) - Impacted the game with his plus speed on a couple of occasions. Had an infield single in the 4th inning, following McAdoo's homer and then stole a base. Nothing came of that but in the 3-run 6th inning he hit a ball at very steady Foothill 2020 shortstop Niko Mollat. Because of Wright's speed, Mollat had to charge the ball and did so a bit too aggressively and muffed the ball for an error that was forced entirely by Wright's speed. He eventually came around to score on Santiago's single as he was stealing 3rd base on that play.

2019 RHP Eric Reyzelman (USF commit) - Started on the mound, went 5+ IP, gave up the three runs in the 1st inning but that was all. Only one of the runs was earned (6 K, 4 BB, 4 H). After facing eight hitters in the 1st, he cam out and had a 1-2-3 2nd and 3rd inning which restored calm to the team. He faced only three batters in the 4th as well, aided by Amigh's back pick of 2021 LF Caleb Lammle, who had slammed a double to left field. Two runners reached in the 5th inning, one via swinging bunt and one walk, but Reyzelman (fastball 84-90, CHG 73-75, CB 71-72, SL 75-76) threw a perfect fastball on the inner half and struck out Foothill 4-hitter joe Scalzo, who had previously singled to drive in a run in the 1st inning. After he walked the first batter in the top of the 6th his day was done.

2019 RHP Dylan White (U of Chicago commit) - Entered after that walk and proceeded to punch out the first two hitters he saw. The inning was extended on an E5 and then an infield single (the ball that Fusari kept from going into CF) set up Footill with lead-off hitter Mollat at the plate. But White got him to pop out to 2nd base. He allowed a single to to Scalzo in the top of the 7th but that was it. White punctuated the win with a strikeout to end the game. His stuff was 84-87 mph and snapped off a few good curveballs.

Again, it was a FULL team effort for De La Salle and illustrates why they are so hard to beat. They have talent and skill up and down the line-up, there are not any easy outs and their pitchers generally pound the zone and change speeds well. They don't simply overwhelm teams with their talent though. It's just that they keep coming at their opponents all game long.

As for Foothill, 2020 SS Niko Mollat went 1-for-4, leading off the game with a single and then scoring. Outside of the error he made on the chopper hit by Wright, he played very good defense and certainly looks to be a player who can help a college team. 2019 3B Joe Scalzo went 2-for-4 and scored a run. 2021 LF Caleb Lammle went 1-for-2 with a double and walk, but getting picked off by Amigh was a big play in the game. After he was picked off the very next hitter grounded up the line when Santiago made his diving play... and it's likely that he would NOT have been on the line with a runner at 2nd base. But with two outs and no runners on base, he shifted to 'no doubles' defense. 2020 CF Max Masajilo went 2-for-3 with two infield singles.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Northern California Underclass ID	CA	05/26	Islanders Field
Inland Empire Futures Games Trials	CA	06/01	Norco High School
SoCal ProCase	CA	06/08	Hart Park
Northern California ProCase	CA	06/09	Delta College - Nick Cecchetti Field
Bay Area Open Showcase	CA	06/26	Laney College
Inland Empire Top Prospect ID	CA	07/23	Santiago High School
Norcal Top Prospect ID	CA	07/24	St. Mary's College
Junior Future Games / Future Games	NATIONAL	07/30	LakePoint
Rising Stars Showcase	CA	09/21	Santiago High School

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