Hart Makes Best Pitch for First Place

It was the biggest game of the season for Hart High, too big for just one pitcher.

So Hart used three, and came away with a 4-0 victory over Burroughs in a Foothill League baseball game Tuesday at Hart.

The victory allows Hart (12-7, 6-2 in league) to pull within a game of first-place Burroughs (12-6, 7-1). The teams play again Friday for a third and final time at Burroughs.

Hart started senior Brian Hernandez, who gave up three hits in four plus-innings and shut down Burroughs’ Tommy Perez and Anthony Fabrizio, who have combined for 15 home runs this season.

“We pretty much go however they go,” Burroughs Coach Jose Valle said.

Hernandez had plenty to prove after taking the loss in the teams’ first meeting, an 11-1 victory by Burroughs last month.

“I was pumped up for this one,” Hernandez said. “We weren’t ready to give up the league championship.”

After Hernandez (4-2) walked Mike Shamoon to open the fifth inning, Hart Coach Bud Murray brought in junior Andy Davidson. He allowed Shamoon to reach third base, but didn’t allow another runner in the inning.

With Hart clinging to a 2-0 lead, Davidson ran into trouble in the sixth after Danny Mariscal led off with a single.

With the wind blowing in, he allowed a deep fly ball to center field by Perez, and hit Fabrizio with a pitch. Murray brought in Bobby Graves, who retired all five batters he faced to earn his first save.

“Davidson came in and got some big outs and Bobby was just Bobby,” Murray said. “It’s what we needed.”

Hart took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a single by Chris Wright and a double by Eric Horvat. Hart added another run in the second after a leadoff double by Cody Joyce, a wild pitch and a ground ball to first base by Matt McAfee.

Hart threatened again in the sixth when Mariscal dropped a fly ball in left field with Joyce on first base and two outs. Pinch-hitter Travis Richardson drove in two runs with a single to left on the next pitch.