By Gareth Kwok, Sports Editor
// After an Acalanes 9-0 shutout on Campolindo’s diamond on April 25, the Cougars got revenge on Acalanes today on May 11. The Dons lost 5-2 to the Cougars as the blue and white’s offense was unable to produce at the right time and the pitching proved to be shaky. This puts Acalanes at 10-12 for the season and 4-4 in Diablo Athletic League (DAL) play with only two games left in the regular season. The loss also puts Acalanes in a tie with Northgate for third place out of six teams in the DAL standings.
Campolindo started off the scoring in the top of the 2nd inning. After two singles and a groundout, moving the runners to 2nd and 3rd, third baseman Ryan Regan hit an RBI groundout to plate in the first run for the Cougars. The next batter, catcher Michael McAuliffe, would then hit an RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0 Campolindo after two innings.
Acalanes finally got on the board in the 4th. Freshman right-fielder Nick Kresnak laced a single to start off the inning. Pinch hitter Nick Berry sat on a hanging curveball and drove it into the right-center field gap, an RBI double for the junior, scoring Kresnak to make the score 2-1.
Campolindo would tack on another run in the 5th, courtesy of first baseman Josh Rego’s bloop RBI single to right field. Acalanes answered back with a run of their own as starting pitcher Matty Vicencio drove in a run by grounding out to second. Campolindo up 3-2 after 5 innings.
However, the Cougs put this game away in the 7th, scoring two runs on an RBI single past Dons’ shortstop Stefan Raeth and a sacrifice fly to center fielder Will Rembac. Acalanes would bring the tying run to the plate with runners on 2nd and 3rd and two outs but a fly out to left field ended the game.
Vicencio pitched 4 innings, striking out two, allowing two runs. The bullpen, featuring seniors Kevin McConnell and Ty Ewing, would give up the next three runs. Senior Daniel Kim led the team’s offense with three hits.
Acalanes plays Northgate on the road Tuesday, May 16 and then the senior day finale Thursday, May 18 versus Alhambra at home.