Prep baseball: Uriarte, McGrath lead San Marin in shutout of Novato
San Marin High junior Hunter Uriarte and his teammates were excited for a rematch with crosstown rival Novato, but in truth, neither side wanted a third matchup in the first round of the North Coast Section playoffs.
“This is a big-time crosstown rivalry, so we had to bring it to them,” Uriarte said after the Mustangs powered to a 12-0 victory in five innings over the Hornets in the NCS Division II opener at San Marin’s Mark Whitburn Field.
Uriarte homered and doubled to tally a run and three RBIs, while senior Tyler Keehn finished the day 2 for 3 with a double, three runs and five RBIs for the Mustangs, who advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals.
The Mustangs (17-10) will face another MCAL foe in Saturday’s quarterfinals against No. 6 Tam. The Red-tailed Hawks, a 4-0 first-round winner over No. 11 University, will travel to San Marin for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
Coaches and players on both San Marin and Novato teams said they would have preferred to meet later in the playoffs, and suggested the NCS’ new competitive equity seeding system still needs some tweaking. As it is, the MCAL will lose two of its teams in the first two rounds.
“We see San Marin all the time. Yes, it’s NCS playoffs, but it doesn’t feel like it should,” Novato coach Jason Searle said.
San Marin is now 8-0 against Novato (16-10) dating back to April 30, 2024, although the Hornets nearly ended that streak this season. San Marin held off Novato, 6-1 and 3-2, in their two prior meetings this season.
“That’s a very good Novato team there,” San Marin coach Jamie Vattuone said.
San Marin ace Sean McGrath held Novato to just three hits and struck out five batters in the shutout. At the plate, he was just as effective, as he was 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles for two RBIs and two runs scored.
The Mustangs rang out nine hits, and took advantage of three Novato errors, including two misplays in the first inning.
San Marin’s Hugh Brady reached base when the throw from third sailed over the head of Novato’s Cohen Garcia at first. Brady later scored on a double to the centerfield fence by McGrath. Matthew Baldino scored from third on Keehn’s ground ball that slipped past the Hornets infield for another error. McGrath was thrown out at home.
Uriarte stepped up to the plate ready for a showdown with Novato ace JP Harmon.
“I saw the ball pretty good today,” Uriarte said. “I’ve seen JP pitch my whole life and he’s great, so I know what to expect from him.”
Uriarte watched the ball punch through a stiff breeze to sail over the fence in right-center field for his first varsity home run.
“I was just looking to put a good swing on the ball,” Uriarte said. “Everybody knows this park is not a right-handed hitter’s park, so you’ve got to go to the far side.”
Uriarte also flashed some solid defense at third base, laying out to rob the Hornets’ Ben Cleary of a hit with a output at first in the third inning.
Harmon went deep into the count, with 95 pitches through 3.1 innings. The junior struck out three batters and walked three, while he allowed eight hits. He was charged with just six earned runs.
The Hornets were snakebit again in the third inning after Baldino reached first as Garcia leapt to catch a high throw from third. McGrath followed with his second double of the day. Keehn sent a harmless-looking hit to shallow right field, but with the stiff wind, the ball dropped under the glove of Owen VonBehren as he rushed in from the outfield. That allowed two San Marin runs to score, and Keehn later scored on a base hit from Dylan Procopio for a 7-0 lead.
“We put pressure on them and capitalized on some mistakes,” Vattuone said. “We were hitting the ball well and kept it going.”
San Marin’s hitters played a smart game during a five-run fourth inning, with three walks to load the bases for McGrath, who singled to plate Aidan Whitmore. Keehn added a two-run single for a double-digit lead that forced Harmon from the mound.