There was a sense of relief in Steve Espinoza’s voice after his Palo Alto Oaks swept Fontanetti’s Sunday in a doubleheader at Baylands Park.
“It took me four years, but we finally got it,” the Los Altos High graduate said.
The semipro Oaks not only swept their rival for the first time in Espinoza’s tenure as manager; they also locked up the league title. Palo Alto, which split with Fontanetti’s (San Jose) the last two seasons, finish 14-0 in the Western Baseball Association.
After coming back to win Sunday’s opening game 5-4 in extra innings, the host Oaks blanked Fontanetti’s 3-0 in the capper.
“Unlike San Luis Obispo, we got some timely hits,” said Espinoza, referring to a pair of non-league losses to the Blues the prior weekend. “We came through.”
Fontanetti’s took a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning of the opener, only to see the Oaks rally in the bottom of the frame. Nate Ford led off with a single, Gunn High graduate Greg Matson walked and, after a strikeout, Shane Parsons scored both men with a sharp single to left.
The score remained 4-3 until the ninth. That’s when Ford led off with a walk and was lifted for pinch runner Lance Turner, who promptly stole second base on a ball in the dirt. After a pop out, Sean Scott lined a single to right to tie the game.
Scott, who replaced starter Matt Campbell in the ninth, pitched a scoreless 10th as well.
“He was phenomenal, ” Espinoza said of his winning pitcher. “He gave up just one hit and had two strikeouts.”
In the bottom of the inning, Max Kautz belted a triple to score Chris Budelli and win the game.
The second game didn’t have as much drama – not with Jason Kleinhoffer pitching for the Oaks. He threw a complete-game shutout and struck out seven.
The Oaks struck quickly, thanks largely to speedy lead-off batter Budelli. After opening the game with a single, he stole second base, advanced to third on Andrew Smith’s fly to center and scored on a passed ball.
“He’s a great leadoff guy,” Espinoza said of Budelli, who finished with three hits. “He creates good situations for us.”
The Oaks added to their lead in the sixth. Chris Armanino singled with one out, Los Altos High grad Thomas Roux walked, then Budelli’s chopper over the shortstop scored Armanino. Roux soon followed, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Kautz.
By winning the league, the Oaks enter this weekend’s state tournament as the top seed from the WBA. Six Northern California teams will participate in the double-elimination event in Fairfield. Palo Alto opens against the host Fairfield Indians at 1 p.m. Friday at Laurel Creek Park.
