Burroughs baseball hits in bunches for wild-card win
BURBANK — Four of its hitters had two hits each.
Another batter drove in two runs with a single and a sixth starter also scored twice.
The Burroughs High baseball team didn’t need seven innings to post impressive statistics.
PHOTOS: Burroughs vs. San Luis Obispo baseball
It accomplished all of those feats in the first three innings of Tuesday’s CIF Southern Section Division II wild-card game against visiting San Luis Obispo.
The Indians blasted 10 hits and scored five runs against starter Jake Niezen in three innings en route to a 7-3 victory.
Burroughs (17-11) now plays in a first-round game Friday against host Los Osos (20-5).
“It’s a great way to start the playoffs because we play again,” Indian Coach Kiel Holmes said. “We’re in it for the long haul. The best part of the day is you can tell on the faces of the kids that they realize this is one game and we have a lot ahead of us. There is no celebrating yet. We’re going to travel out to Los Osos and give them everything we got.”
The Indians, who finished tied for third in the Pacific League, gave the Tigers (15-13) fits on Tuesday.
After a quick and scoreless first inning, the Indians began the second frame with seven of their first eight batters reaching base. Notably, the Indians received production from the bottom of their lineup, with Luis Pereyra, Chris Davies and Aiden Anding, their No. 7 through 9 batters, each reaching base twice in the second and third innings.
“One through nine, everyone has something to offer,” Pereyra said. “We’re going to continue doing that.”
Anding, who began the season on the junior varsity team, brought home Pereyra for the game’s first run with a bunt single to third. Pereyra, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, walk and error, had a team-high three runs scored. Anding was two for three with two runs scored and Davies was two for four with a run batted in and a run scored.
“Those guys have battled for us all year,” Holmes said. “We told them from the beginning of the season, you need to be tough outs. They move, they hit the ball well; they do exactly what we want. All three of those guys could be a top of the order guy for any of these teams out here. We’re lucky to have them. They did a great job.”
The top of the Indians’ lineup also came through.
Leadoff hitter Miles Haddad was there for three with two runs scored, Jimmy Cramer was two for four with three RBI and Brian Pozos also had two hits. Akira Abderrahman, batting fifth, added the Indians’ other run.
“We got opportunities, we got bunts down and we got the key hit at the right moment,” Cramer said.
Cramer and his teammates didn’t spend much time on the field, thanks to pitcher Daniel Barraza’s performance. The senior tossed six innings and allowed five hits, with two of the hits coming in the first two innings. After allowing a single to start the second inning, Barraza retired 11 straight before a Tiger reached base on an error.
“When Daniel locks in, he’s one of the toughest pitchers to hit,” Holmes said “He got into his groove.”