Shutout Has Mustangs on Cusp of First Place
Charles Zaloumis (above) had another terrific day at the plate and is apart of a Mustangs team making a late title surge. Photo by Chris Jackson
By Chris Jackson Friday May 8, 2015
SAN RAMON, CA-From the bottom of the barrel a year ago, the Monte Vista Mustangs have risen to the elite.
Five shutout innings from Noah Cort led the way as Monte Vista (13-7, 7-3 EBAL) came away with a huge victory
over the host California Grizzlies (11-9, 4-6 EBAL), 3-0.
Cort's five shutout innings were highlighted by six strikeouts, showcasing his impressive talents on the mound.
He also allowed five hits and didn't record a walk.
Daniel Wilson's efforts at the plates were key as he went 2-for-3 with a double and also scored a run, coming on a
single from Jack Maloon to extend Monte Vista's lead to 2-0 in the top of the first inning. That ended a rapid start
for the Mustangs electric offense at the beginning.
Monte Vista's first run of the contest came on a groundout to second from Mike Ricupito, making it 1-0 as Charles
Zaloumis came around to score.
The St. Mary's bound shortstop Zaloumis added to his run by hitting two singles and picking apart the Cal pitchers. His
efforts, like many others, helped send pitcher Liam Steigerwald to the dugout in the fourth inning.
Steigerwald wasn't able to match the performance of Cort on the mound, giving up six hits and three runs. Sophomore
Zach Chalmers came relieved his duties and threw a shutout the rest of the way, not allowing a hit.
Despite it not being the comeback like Wednesday's walkoff victory over Foothill, Cal never backed down in the end, as
it got runners on first and second with one out. Trent Kravitz struckout and Zac Guardino was robbed of an extra-base
hit by Monte Vista center fielder Cameron Bothwell to end it.
Now sitting at 7-3 in the mighty East Bay Athletic League, Monte Vista travels to Livermore (6-4 in EBAL) and first place
De La Salle. Those two results will likely determine if it can contend for a league title heading into the final week.
Five shutout innings from Noah Cort led the way as Monte Vista (13-7, 7-3 EBAL) came away with a huge victory
over the host California Grizzlies (11-9, 4-6 EBAL), 3-0.
Cort's five shutout innings were highlighted by six strikeouts, showcasing his impressive talents on the mound.
He also allowed five hits and didn't record a walk.
Daniel Wilson's efforts at the plates were key as he went 2-for-3 with a double and also scored a run, coming on a
single from Jack Maloon to extend Monte Vista's lead to 2-0 in the top of the first inning. That ended a rapid start
for the Mustangs electric offense at the beginning.
Monte Vista's first run of the contest came on a groundout to second from Mike Ricupito, making it 1-0 as Charles
Zaloumis came around to score.
The St. Mary's bound shortstop Zaloumis added to his run by hitting two singles and picking apart the Cal pitchers. His
efforts, like many others, helped send pitcher Liam Steigerwald to the dugout in the fourth inning.
Steigerwald wasn't able to match the performance of Cort on the mound, giving up six hits and three runs. Sophomore
Zach Chalmers came relieved his duties and threw a shutout the rest of the way, not allowing a hit.
Despite it not being the comeback like Wednesday's walkoff victory over Foothill, Cal never backed down in the end, as
it got runners on first and second with one out. Trent Kravitz struckout and Zac Guardino was robbed of an extra-base
hit by Monte Vista center fielder Cameron Bothwell to end it.
Now sitting at 7-3 in the mighty East Bay Athletic League, Monte Vista travels to Livermore (6-4 in EBAL) and first place
De La Salle. Those two results will likely determine if it can contend for a league title heading into the final week.