CCS baseball: Aptos shows no mercy, sets up semifinal rematch with Los Altos
Posted: Monday, May 19th, 2008
BY: REGISTER-PAJARONIAN STAFF REPORT

They've had to wait a year for a shot at redemption, but now the Aptos baseball team will get another try at Los Altos, the team that knocked them off in the CCS finals a year ago.

The Mariners (26-4) advanced to the Division II semifinals Saturday by trouncing No. 9-seed Santa Clara 10-0 at Washington Park in Santa Clara in a game that was called in the fifth inning — the so-called “mercy rule.”

“We knew we were either going to get Los Gatos or Los Altos,” Aptos coach Randy Kramer said. “We've already played Los Gatos, so we want another crack at Los Altos, absolutely.”

The Mariners fell 6-5 in last year's final, with the tying run on third base. Saturday, the team took the quickest route to a rematch.

Starter Kevin Eichhorn threw only 65 pitches over five innings, allowing only one hit, no runs, and striking out four. Third baseman Joe Davis broke it open for Aptos with a two-out, three-run double in the third that made it 6-0.

“It was a total team effort,” Kramer said. “Everybody got hits, everybody got on base. … The kids made great adjustments at the plate. It was one of the better offensive days one through nine we've had all year.”

Kramer said he and pitching coach Mark Eichhorn haven't yet decided who will pitch against Los Altos —Eichhorn or Kyle Anderson, who threw a complete-game in Thursday's first-round win over Branham.

“We're going to decide about that over the week, map out our pitching plan,” Kramer said. “Being that (Eichhorn) only threw 65 pitches, that's huge.”

Los Altos (22-14), the No.4-seed, will likely throw ace Eric Johnson, who faced the Mariners in relief last season.

“We know about him, we know about the team a little bit,” Kramer said. “But, you know, it's high school baseball. It comes down to timely base hits and who doesn't make mistakes.”