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Berkeley High wins second straight San Marin title

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Thursday April 04, 2002

NOVATO - It’s called the San Marin Tournament, but they might want to rename it the ’Jacket Classic. 

The Berkeley High baseball team claimed their second San Marin Tournament title in as many years on Wednesday with a 6-3 win over the host Mustangs. Junior Sean Souders settled down after a rough two first innings to get the win on the blustery afternoon, running his record to 3-1. 

Berkeley scored five runs in the second inning. Souders hit into a fielder’s choice to score Jason Moore, then Lee Franklin lined a triple to right-center to plate two more runs. After DeAndre Miller was hit by a pitch and stole second base, Clinton Calhoun singled home Franklin and Miller for a 6-3 lead. Calhoun had three RBIs in the game, driving in Miller following a triple in the first inning. 

That was enough for Souders. After adjusting to the sandy mound at San Marin, he bounced back from four walks in the first two innings, which led to all three unearned Mustang runs, with no more free passes and just three hits in the final five innings. 

“There was a big hole where I plant my foot,” Souders said of the mound. “My delivery just wasn’t right. But once I found a good place to plant I started to throw strikes.” 

Berkeley head coach Tim Moellering said he was a little worried that Souders might not go the distance after throwing more than 30 pitches through two innings. Playing their third game in three days, the ’Jackets’ bullpen was thin. 

“I was concerned that I might have to use my bullpen early,” Moellering said. “I told Sean he was on a pitch count of 100, and he finished the game at 99.” 

Berkeley did suffer a blow when cleanup hitter Matt Toma pulled up lame while running out a ground ball in the third inning. He pulled his left hamstring and stayed down for several minutes before being helped to the bench. He will likely be limited to designated-hitter duty next week, when the ’Jackets play games on three straight days, including two ACCAL games. 

“We’ve got another injury to deal with, but we’ve got some good players to fill in,” Moellering said. “We’ll be cautious with Matt.” 

Toma’s injury leaves the ’Jackets with just one healthy catcher, junior Sam Geaney. Senior Jeremy Riesenfeld, who is working back from two surgeries on his throwing arm, was hurt in an off-the-field incident last weekend and may not be available next week. 

Berkeley’s bats were relatively quiet on Wednesday as they struggled to figure out San Marin starter Darrell Fisherbaugh’s multiple arm angles and off-speed stuff. Fisherbaugh didn’t give up a hit after the second inning, allowing just two baserunners on hit batsmen. After scoring in double figures in five of their previous six games, scoring six runs was a meager output for the ’Jackets. 

“We wanted to come out and put up some runs, but the weather kind of held us back,” said Franklin, who was voted tournament MVP. “But six runs was all we needed. Once Sean settled down, they couldn’t touch him.”