BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Sierra Spartan's J.D. Peters bobbles the ball while attempting to make a play against Ricky Molina of the San Bruno Lions on Friday at John L. Harvey Field.
As if the San Bruno, Calif., baseball team wasn't talented enough, it's still nice when you can pick up a Joe DiMaggio World Series two-time most valuable player.
At least after the first round, San Bruno made its case as the team to beat in the Joe DiMaggio World Series in an 11-1 win over the Galena Spartans on Friday at John L. Harvey Field.
Greg Gonzalez threw consistently in the high 80s and low 90s for San Bruno as he didn't allow an earned run in his complete game four-hitter. Gonzalez struck out seven over six innings.
San Bruno has also received a lift from Jimmy Parque. San Bruno picked up Parque from Pacifica. As a 15-year-old, Parque was co-MVP along with former Dayton and current University of Nevada star Matt Bowman, who was playing with the Sierra Sun Devils, in the 2004 Joe DiMaggio World Series.
Parque was also MVP in last year's World Series and helped lead Pacifica to the titles in 2004 and 2006. Parque did his share on Friday, going 3-for-3, while Ricky Molina also did his part, going 4-for-4 for San Bruno.
San Bruno punt on its impressive offensive display against Washington State-bound Eric Maupin, who was able to pitch into the fifth inning for the Spartans, before being chased.
San Bruno still has another tough test today, playing San Francisco's Trinity Maintenance in a winner's bracket game at 4:45 p.m. at John L. Harvey Field. Trinity advanced with an 8-4 win over Vallejo, Calif.
In the other winner's bracket game, the Sun Devils will play the Tri-County (Calif.) Gamblers at 2:15 p.m. Tri-County advanced with a 14-4 win over Mendocino, Calif.
In elimination games, Mendocino will play San Carlos, Calif., at 9 a.m. and Vallejo will play Galena at 11:30 a.m.
"I'm very happy," said San Bruno manager Bob Dolan after Friday's game. "This is a good ball club. It was a great way to start.
"I was happy with the way we swung the bats. My fear now is we get a little overconfident. We can't take anyone for granted."
Parque's two-run home run gave San Bruno a 2-0 lead in the first. Molina followed with a triple and Mike Watkins hit an RBI single to make it 3-0.
"Jimmy brings a lot to our lineup," Nolan said. "This guy's a game-and-a-half." Nolan also said he told Parque "I'm glad you're on my side for once."
The Spartans looked to have a chance to score in the third when Corey Metoyer walked and Charles Price reached on a bunt single to give them runners at first and second with no outs. But the inning ended when Pete Lazzari lined to right field into what turned out to be a double play.
Lucas Hagsberg doubled and scored, then Molina hit an RBI double and Watkins had an RBI single to give San Bruno a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
The Spartans made it 6-1 in the fourth when Scott Underwood singled and scored on Jacob Anderson's single.
In the fifth, Parque and Molina singled and Ivan Hidalgo followed with an RBI single. After runs scored on a walk and wild pitch, Hagsberg's RBI infield single made it 10-1.
In the sixth, Parque walked and advanced to third on Molina's single. The game ended on the mercy rule when Parque scored on a throwing error.
Hagsberg also had three hits and Watkins added two hits. Jake Hess doubled for the Spartans.
Nolan said Gonzalez could come back to pitch in Tuesday's championship round. "If we're luck enough to get there," Nolan said. "That's getting way ahead of myself.
"The kid that pitched for us in one of the best for his age. He's got a great competitiveness. He can pretty much go anywhere. He pitched a great game."
TRI-COUNTY 14, MENDOCINO 4
Brock Neil hit a walk-off three-run home run in the sixth inning, ending the game on the mercy rule. Tri-County scored 13 unanswered runs in overcoming a 4-1 deficit.
The turning point came after Sebastian Salas' double gave Tri-County runners at second and third with no outs in the fourth. Alex Thomson hit a two-run single past a drawn-in infield to make it 4-3. Tri-County scored another run on a walk to tie the score 4-4.
In the fifth, two runs scored on wild pitches and Nick Hedrick hit a two-run single to make it 8-4. In the sixth, Salas hit an RBI sacrifice fly, Ray McIntire had an RBI double and Kris Cole hit an RBI single. After Michael Gleason doubled, Neil's homer ended the game.
Mark Pedersen's two-run single gave Mendocino a 4-1 lead in the top of the fourth.
Neil, Hedrick and McIntire all had two hits for Tri-County. Thomson pitched a complete game for the win.
TRINITY 8, VALLEJO 4
Pat Burford's two-run triple and Dan Brown's RBI double gave Trinity a 3-0 lead in the first. Geread Filippi's RBI double for Vallejo cut the deficit to 3-1 in the second. Burford hit a solo homer and after Brown doubled, Anthony Melendez hit an RBI double to make it 5-1 in the second.
In the third, David Pouncy doubled and Tyler Cravy hit a two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-3 for Vallejo. Burford doubled and scored to make it 6-3 in the fifth. Vallejo loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth, but came away with just one run.
Anthony Lecue homered and Tom Harlan hit an RBI single to give Trinity an 8-4 lead in the seventh.
Burford had three hits and Brown added two hits for Trinity. Cravy, Filippi and Pouncy all had two hits for Vallejo.