The Point Loma Pointers’ first playoff appearance in the last four years came to an end last week when they were eliminated from CIF Div. II play by San Ysidro’s Cougars on the South Bay school’s diamond.
The victory sent the Cougars to the section championship game. If the Pointers had prevailed in the double-elimination tournament, the two teams would have met once more to determine who advanced.
The Pointers (18-14 overall, 7-5 for third place in Western League) took leads of 1-0 and 2-1 but were unable to contain the Cougars (30-3 overall, 6-0 and Metro South Bay League champions) in a 4-2 loss that saw all runs scored in the first two innings.
Cole Lemmel led off the game for the Pointers with a high fly ball to right field that was lost in the sun by the Cougar fielder, with Lemmel racing all the way to third base for a triple. A sacrifice fly by Seth Urbon scored Lemmel.
In the second inning, it was Lawrence Perez lofting another fly to right field where, again, the Cougar defender lost the ball in the sun. Perez was credited with a double, and Frank Rogozienski laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Perez to third base. Starting pitcher Clay Palmer then drilled a clean double to plate Perez for what proved to be a short-lived 2-1 margin.
While the Pointers totaled seven hits and weren’t overpowered by senior Cougar ace Jose Torres, they were unable to get key hits with runners in scoring position. Torres pitched his first complete game of the year, improving his record to 8-1 with a 1.17 earned run average.
The Pointers struck the ball well, but often at Cougar infielders, who played flawlessly.
In contrast, many of the eight Cougar hits off starter Palmer and reliever Urbon were “bleeders,” poorly struck balls that became infield hits, a fact not lost upon first-year Pointer head coach David Wells.
“We didn’t get beat today, we got bled to death,” said Wells, as players dispersed after an emotional post-game session that included hugs, heartfelt praise from each Pointer coach and more than a few tears from players.
“As a pitcher, you dread those bleeders,” Wells noted, “but the commitment (our players) put in the last two weeks was beautiful. It was awesome to see their change in demeanor and approach. The guys on the bench were loud and helpful and that’s why we got this far.”
The five-game playoff run by the Pointers is the longest in records dating to 2004. It began with a “play-in” game Wells admitted “scared the hell out of me,” but his team prevailed over Mission Hills 3-1 after a lengthy bus ride to the San Marcos school.
Philip Huber and Urbon each had two of the team’s five hits, with Huber and Perez credited with RBI’s.
On the mound, Cole van den Helder went the distance, allowing six hits and no earned runs while walking none and striking out 12.
In the first playoff game, the Pointers traveled to Lakeside to face El Capitan. The Vaqueros hung the first playoff loss on them in a 4-1 win that saw Rogozienski drive in the only Pointer run.
Facing elimination from this point on, the Pointers next hung a 5-2 loss on visiting Francis Parker highlighted by a two-run Lemmel homer over the left field fence at David Wells Field.
Jayson Pappas and Rogozienski drove in the other runs as Urbon threw a 106-pitch complete game, scattering six hits, walking three and striking out four.
This set up a return to Lakeside for another shot at the Vaqueros, Philip Huber blasted a 360-foot, two run homer that cleared the left centerfield fence and struck the scoreboard in a 5-3 Pointer victory.
Sean Robinson was one out away from a 5-0 shutout win when a grounder that should have ended the game was overthrown by a Pointer infielder, leading to all three Vaquero runs before Lemmel, in relief, induced the final out.
Urbon had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run as he and Perez each had an RBI.
Playing their final games as Pointers were seniors Perez, Robinson, Pappas, Palmer, Lemmel, Cheyne VanArsdale, Tristan Jenkins, Ryan Arnold, Mason Wilson, Matt Innis and Mason Verhees.
“We had our backs to the wall and came up big,” Wells said of his team that eliminated Mission Hills, Francis Parker and El Capitan.
“I told our guys, ‘Don’t hang your heads – you came a long way.’ We’ve got some kids heading off to college and I wish them luck.”
Wells is optimistic about his team’s future.
“We’ve got some speed and I like our pitching. We have some sophomores who are already playing and some juniors moving up,” Wells said.