SAN RAMON — For five-and-a-half innings Tuesday, Alameda controlled No. 4 seed California in the first round of the North Coast Section Division I baseball playoffs.
But the Grizzlies, who have rallied a number of times this season, produced perhaps their most important rally yet. Trailing by three runs to the 13th-seeded Hornets, Cal High scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and won 4-3.
The Grizzlies (22-5) will host No. 12 Granada (16-10) on Friday at 5 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Granada upset No. 5 College Park 3-2 on Tuesday.
“To come back and win, that’s just how we’ve been doing it all year … call it the junkyard dog mentality,” said Cal High’s Nic Bronzini, who hit a long two-run single for the tying and eventual winning runs. “I was looking for a pitch, sitting on a fastball and I got it. … I knew I got enough of it to at least drive it for a base hit, and that’s all I wanted to do.”
Alameda’s resolve, which included impressive pitching from Hawaii-bound Ethan Thomas, and California’s clutch performance was so impressive that fans on both sides gave the teams a standing ovation as they shook hands after the final out.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Alameda coach Ken Arnerich, who has been the Hornets’ leader for 20 years. “I told the kids ‘leave it between the lines’ and they did that and more. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: Alameda pitcher Ethan Thomas (20) reacts after California High scored the go ahead runs in the sixth inning of the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. California scored the four runs in the sixth inning to beat Alameda 4-3. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: California's Teddy Booras (9) steals second against Alameda's Ethan Terrero (1) in the fifth inning of the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. California won 4-3. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: California's Cade Hannula (17) is safe at second against Alameda's Ethan Terrero (1) in the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. California won 4-3. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: Alameda's Jake Cross (18) hits an RBI single against California High in the sixth inning of the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: Alameda's Kai Shimp (10) is out at second by California's Cade Hannula (17) on a double play in the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. California won 4-3. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: California's Cade Hannula (17) and Teddy Booras (9) celebrate a double play against Alameda High in the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. California won 4-3. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: Alameda's Luis Licea (2) beats the tag at second ahead of California's Cade Hannula (17) in the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. California won 4-3. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: Alameda pitcher Ethan Thomas (20) reacts after the last strike out against California High in the fifth inning of the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. Alameda High lost 4-3 after California scored the four runs in the sixth inning. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: California's Raoul Fabian (24) and Dean Meddaugh (5) celebrate after scoring on a 2-run double by Dom Tuyor (3) against Alameda High in the sixth inning of the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. California won 4-3. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: California High baseball team celebrate the go ahead runs against Alameda High in the sixth inning of the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. California scored the four runs in the sixth inning to beat Alameda 4-3. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: California High baseball team celebrate the go ahead runs against Alameda High in the sixth inning of the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. California scored the four runs in the sixth inning to beat Alameda 4-3. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: California High baseball team celebrate the go ahead runs against Alameda High in the sixth inning of the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. California scored the four runs in the sixth inning to beat Alameda 4-3. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: Alameda pitcher Ethan Thomas (20) reacts after losing to California High 4-3 in the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. California scored the four runs in the sixth inning. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA - MAY 17: Alameda High baseball players react after losing to California High 4-3 in the first round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs at California High in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2022. California scored the four runs in the sixth inning. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
The 6-foot-4 Thomas used his powerful fastball and slider to stymie California until the sixth inning. Up to that point, Cal High had only managed two hits and Thomas had struck out eight batters and walked none.
Dean Meddaugh, the Grizzlies’ No. 9 hitter, and Raoul Fabian led off the bottom of the sixth inning with singles. Brady Wetzel walked to load the bases.
After Thomas induced a strikeout, Dom Tuyor ripped the ball down the left-field line for a two-run double. After a walk by Cade Hannula and an out, Bronzini hit the first pitch he saw off the center field fence for a two-run single. He then retired three of the four batters he faced as a pitcher in the seventh inning for the win.
“Their pitcher was dominating us pretty much for five innings, then we found a way to get on base,” Cal High coach Dan Ward said. “We did a good job competing in that last inning, in the sixth.”
Alameda scored in the top of the first inning on a fielder’s choice when Max Cohen beat a relay throw to first on a double-play attempt, scoring Owen Firestone. The score remained 1-0 through the first five innings. California starting pitcher Steven Verespey pitched the first four innings, allowing just four hits, striking out three and walking only one.
Cal High shortstop Teddy Booras helped out Verespey with an impressive double play in the fourth. He caught a blooper in shallow center field with his back to the plate, then swirled around and fired the ball to second base for the final out of the inning.
“A lot of emotions going on for this game because it’s nearing the end of my baseball career,” said Booras, the Grizzlies’ star quarterback who will play football at Golden West College in the fall.
Alameda loaded the bases without scoring in the fifth inning but broke through with two runs in the sixth inning. Kai Shimp, who was 3 for 4 in the game, scored on an error, then Thomas walked with the bases loaded to drive in Nicolas Araujo for a 3-0 Alameda lead.
