Cate’s Jackson Mauze pitched a complete game on Tuesday, but the Rams were knocked out of the CIF-SS Division VII baseball playoffs by Cornerstone Christian — the same team that beat them in the CIF Championship game last year — in the second round by a score of 6-2.
The host Rams (10-6) looked uncomfortable defensively on their own field, committing five errors including three which led directly to runs for the Eagles (22-3). Mauze battled on the mound, striking out four and allowing nine hits. The junior said that the errors were hard to shrug off.
“You really can’t let it get to you. It does a little bit, and you hate to admit it, but we just picked ourselves up and tried to get back in it as best we could,” said the junior.
Last year’s magical run was headed up by six seniors, and Mauze said that one of the encouraging parts about this year was that the team was so young, featuring just two seniors.
Cate's Jackson Mauze struck out four in his complete-game effort.
“Nobody believed we could go anywhere… We got to the second round, and Thacher and Dunn didn’t get to the second round, so that feels good,” he said.
After allowing an unearned run on a two-out error in the first, the Rams gave up three more with two outs in the third. Their response came in the bottom of the fourth, when Kirk Seaman picked up a one-out single which was follwed by a walk, a bunt single by Greg Cusack and another walk. It gave the Rams two much-needed runs, but two straight strikeouts to end the inning ended what could have been much more as the Rams had the bases loaded with one out.
Rams (10-6) coach Ben Soto was emotional after the game, hugging all of his players with tears in his eyes.
“Every season’s end is emotional. We’re out here since February, and I love these kids… I have fun every day I come out here, and now the fun’s over as far as being out here,” he said.
Seaman, Drew Redmond and Michael Warren led the Cate offense with a single and a walk each. The only extra-base hit came off the bat of Cornerstone’s Aaron Roth in the top of the seventh.
CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN 6, CATE 2
Cornerstone Christian…103 020 0 — 6 9 2
Cate…000 200 0 — 2 5 5
RStover, ARoth (4) and ARoth, Stover (4). Mauze and Fairbanks.
2B — CC: ARoth.
