LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Black Sox Cruise to Round Three of the OBA Playoffs


The Black Sox celebrate taking the lead Photo Junaid Khan

Orinda Baseball Association (OBA) Mustang playoffs got off to an exciting start the weekend of May 23rd. The Cougars, coming off a win against the Giants in the first round of the playoffs, were ready to face the second-seeded Black Sox in round two.

In the top of the first, the Cougars jumped to an early three run lead with hits from Ben Kronnerberg, Ethan Fischler, Drew Mein, Andrew Schwarz, Henry Chow, and Andy Kroziere. The Black Sox came back in the bottom of the inning with two runs and hits by Riley Sullivan, Jake Hassard, Asim Khan and Blake Bates. For the remainder of the game the Black Sox defense really set in with solid pitching by Walker Lambert (2K), Khan (4K), Sullivan (1K), and Hassard (2K), and great catches in the outfield by Dillon Wall and Chris Barber. Stanaro and Bates also threw out three runners attempting steals from behind the plate.

The Black Sox scored two more runs in the second with solid hitting from Wall, Gavin Flum, Barber and Lambert. The game stayed close due to solid pitching by the Cougars Fischler, Mein, John Novogradac, and Schwarz through the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, beginning with hits by Sullivan and Hassard, the Black Sox started a rally. A hit by Khan blew the game wide open. His three run shot ran deep over the left field fence. Bates got on-base next and stole three bases for the final run.

In the top of the sixth, Schwarz hit a double to centerfield. K.B. Bauer and Jimmy Foley also hit the ball well, but Hassard was able to shut the Cougars down with clutch pitching.

After the Memorial Day weekend break, in a much anticipated quarter-final playoff game, the Orinda Black Sox and Legends squared off to determine who would advance to the semi-finals. The Sox's pitcher, Lambert, pitched two innings only giving up one run.

The bottom of the first set the tempo for the remainder of the game. After striking out the first batter, Sullivan singled, Hassard doubled, Khan was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Legends' shortstop Garret Louie then made a great play by fielding the next ground ball and throwing home for the force out. With two outs and the bases still loaded, Stanaro doubled in two runs. Berkman then doubled scoring two more runs. Black Sox 4, Legends 1.

Khan then pitched the next three innings giving up only one run. Hassard followed Khan giving up only one run in one and 2/3 innings. The Black Sox kept the pressure up the entire game with hits from Levy (2 RBI's), and Barber (1 RBI). Wall walked twice and Sox's Bates made an outstanding play at shortstop to end the game.

Legend coach Steve Cassriel and Scott Mollahan commented "it's the best OBA defense I have seen all season." Coaches Brent Bates and John Hassard attributed the wins to "every single player hitting the ball well" and "solid defense behind good pitchers."