A perfect 10: Tigers visit new heights

WOODSIDE – There was nothing easy about Terra Nova's 10th straight victory – a 5-4 decision over Woodside on Thursday – that may have put the Tigers in the driver's seat toward a Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division crown.

"There's still a lot of baseball to be played, but we like where we are right now," said Tigers coach Jared Milch, whose team improved to 4-0 in league and 10-2-1 overall. "We need to keep playing hard and playing our game, don't get complacent and play for each other."

The 10th straight victory matches Leigh for the longest active winning streak on the Peninsula this year and equals the 10 straight wins posted by top-ranked Serra to start the season.

Keep in mind that this winning streak comes in the midst of a time when the Tigers don't have a home field. While their diamond is undergoing major renovations – turf, lights and a much-needed upgrade – every game is a road trip. Call them the Peninsula's Visiting Team.

This one wasn't secured catcher Joey Donati knocked down Luke Ornelas' one-hop throw from right field, picked up the ball and tagged out Matteus Mokhtarani, who had tried to score from second on Junior Cattaneo's single.

It was one of those plays where you understand why Dan Rogers sent the runner. The Wildcats, trailing 5-3, had loaded the bases with two walks and a booted infield grounder. Relying on another hit might have been hoping for too much.

Then again, the next hitter was senior Trent Amoroso, the Wildcats' best hitter.

"You had to send him," said Amoroso, who died in the on-deck circle. "It was the right call."

And the Tigers survived. They swept the series from Woodside and showed the same kind of gumption that had fueled this magical winning streak. They make mistakes but always seem to find a way to recover.

Ornelas had three hits, was on base four times and scored three runs. He also came into the ball game to relieve sophomore Jesse Martinez in the sixth inning and struggled with his control. He walked the first two batters he faced and then retired the next three batters.

Part of his problem was he was told by the home plate umpire to take off his arm sleeve and it affected him.

"I think that just got my head a little bit," he said. "I kind of lost (my control)."

When he walked Jeremiah Arias Torres to start the seventh inning, Milch didn't hesitate to go to his bullpen. He brought in Cooper Santamato, who threw two perfect innings to pick up the save the day before.

"I knew Coop was behind me to shut it down," Ornelas said.

Santamato got the save again, but it wasn't as clean as the previous day.

Three Things We Liked

• Hits in bunches. Terra Nova strung together four hits in five at bats in the third inning. Ornelas led off with a double and one out later, Brody Finale doubled, JT Snead doubled, and Evan Wilson singled to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. "We do a lot of situational hitting," Ornelas said. "So, when someone gets on, our batting averages just goes up."
• Jeremiah Arias Torres. He has a sweet swing and collected two more hits on Thursday. He bats cleanup in a lineup that features Amoroso, Anderson Comfort and Cruz Torres in front of him. The Wildcats are going to win a lot of games down the stretch.
• Youth. The Tigers aren't the only team relying on young players like sophomores Martinez, Finale and Wes McDougal. The Wildcats have sophomore Charles Dalrymple and freshmen Colby Fernandez and Mokhtarani in their starting lineup. Fernandez already has two three-hit games, including Thursday, in his first week at the varsity level.

He Said It

"I'm just really proud of these guys. I can't say that enough right now. It's really, a fun thing to be a part of right now." Terra Nova coach Jared Milch.

W: Martinez. L: Hohl. S: Santamato. 3 hits- Ornelas (TN), Fernandez (W). 2 hits- Finale (TN), Arias Torres (W), Torres (W). 2B- Ornelas (TN). Finale (TN), JT Snead (TN).