Vranesh's Walkoff Powers Spartans to Semis
By Chris Jackson Friday May 29, 2015
CONCORD, CA-It was survive and advance mode for the top-seeded Spartans.
Joe Vranesh's hit a sacrifice-fly to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning, driving in Charlie Zioulkowski and sending
the De La Salle Spartans off in walkoff fashion over the Foothill Falcons, 3-2.
The regular season series between the two was full of wild finishes and this one was no different. After taking a 2-1 lead in
the top of the sixth inning on a two-run double from Vincent Tanisawa, it appeared that Foothill could secure its second
consecutive semifinals berth.
De La Salle thought otherwise.
Joe Vranesh belted a solo home run to left field and knotted it up at two in the bottom of the sixth inning. Following his home
run, more wild and wacky play unfolded in the inning.
Kevin Sandri doubled with two outs and Michael McAdoo scored and it looked to be a 3-2 Spartans advantage. Instead McAdoo
was called out after being deemed to have missed third base on his way to home plate. The game-winning run still came for
them, however, and the Spartans lived on.
Vranesh's day at the plate was the main reason De La Salle lives to see another round. He went 2-for-4, adding two RBI's and
having the biggest hits of the afternoon.
Foothill had an opportunity to extend its lead in the top of the sixth. After runners reached second and third and the lead was
at 2-1, catcher Nate Jetter struckout looking to finish the inning.
Lefty ace Justin Hooper delivered for a majority of the contest despite the sixth inning struggles and five walks. He surrendered
four hits and two earned runs, but managed to strand five Foothill baserunners in the process.
Joey Lea nearly did enough on the mound to push Foothill to its third NCS semifinals appearance since 2010. He was pulled in the sixth inning after allowing two runs (one earned) and five hits, with three errors from the defense keeping multiple De La Salle innings alive in the early-going.
With the semifinals matchup now in place, De La Salle will host four-seed Amador Valley on Wednesday, who is also coming off
a walkoff single from Andrew Crabill and giving it a 2-1 victory over San Ramon Valley.
Joe Vranesh's hit a sacrifice-fly to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning, driving in Charlie Zioulkowski and sending
the De La Salle Spartans off in walkoff fashion over the Foothill Falcons, 3-2.
The regular season series between the two was full of wild finishes and this one was no different. After taking a 2-1 lead in
the top of the sixth inning on a two-run double from Vincent Tanisawa, it appeared that Foothill could secure its second
consecutive semifinals berth.
De La Salle thought otherwise.
Joe Vranesh belted a solo home run to left field and knotted it up at two in the bottom of the sixth inning. Following his home
run, more wild and wacky play unfolded in the inning.
Kevin Sandri doubled with two outs and Michael McAdoo scored and it looked to be a 3-2 Spartans advantage. Instead McAdoo
was called out after being deemed to have missed third base on his way to home plate. The game-winning run still came for
them, however, and the Spartans lived on.
Vranesh's day at the plate was the main reason De La Salle lives to see another round. He went 2-for-4, adding two RBI's and
having the biggest hits of the afternoon.
Foothill had an opportunity to extend its lead in the top of the sixth. After runners reached second and third and the lead was
at 2-1, catcher Nate Jetter struckout looking to finish the inning.
Lefty ace Justin Hooper delivered for a majority of the contest despite the sixth inning struggles and five walks. He surrendered
four hits and two earned runs, but managed to strand five Foothill baserunners in the process.
Joey Lea nearly did enough on the mound to push Foothill to its third NCS semifinals appearance since 2010. He was pulled in the sixth inning after allowing two runs (one earned) and five hits, with three errors from the defense keeping multiple De La Salle innings alive in the early-going.
With the semifinals matchup now in place, De La Salle will host four-seed Amador Valley on Wednesday, who is also coming off
a walkoff single from Andrew Crabill and giving it a 2-1 victory over San Ramon Valley.