Gabe Speier’s biggest motivation to pitch well on Friday was to not get the big kids mad.
“That’s what I was thinking before the game. I was telling all my friends that the seniors would hate me if I did bad, but thank God I did good,” he said.
The 15-year-old freshman lefty picked up his second win in three days, allowing three runs on six hits with five strikeouts as Dos Pueblos beat visiting Buena 8-6 in a play-in game for the CIF playoffs.
Senior captain Corey Micheel said he never doubted Speier, who is now 6-3.
The Chargers celebrate after extending their season on Friday.
“No, I have faith in Gabe. I’ve seen him pitch, and I knew he’d go out there and do his best for me,” said Micheel, who had three base hits on the day and hit well over .500 on the season in league play.
It’s been an almost surreal turnaround for coach Nate Mendoza, who was under the impression that the playoffs were an impossibility after Monday’s non-league loss at Harvard-Westlake.
“Wow. Like I told the kids, when we started off the week on Monday I didn’t know we had a shot since Buena took the series from us. I mean, we’re in a whole other world from where we were on Monday in practice,” he said.
The Bulldogs were in a whole other world as well after Friday’s game, and it wasn’t a good one after an 0-3 week that will keep them from the playoffs. Buena suffered two losses against league-champion Santa Barbara before falling to DP.
“It’s definitely a rough week. We knew we had to win one to get into the playoffs, and we had Santa Barbara who has always been very difficult to beat… It was rough, especially with these kids and this group of seniors,” said coach Anthony Espitia, who had to console many of his players who became emotional after the game. The Bulldogs have 11 seniors on their roster.
Speier gave up a one-out double in the top of the first but got out of it unscathed. Junior Steven Reveles provided some early confidence, blasting a leadoff home run on the second pitch he saw in the bottom of the frame.
Reveles went 3-for-3 with a walk on the day. He also hit a homer and a triple in Thursday’s win over Campbell Hall and had a game-tying, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh in Wednesday’s win over San Marcos.
“What a start to a game. That was amazing,” said Mendoza. “You couldn’t ask for a bigger hit… He’s the leader of the team, him and Cory, and they set the table for the rest of the guys.”
The Chargers (14-13, 6-7) looked ready to bust things wide open in the second, as they put up five runs and batted around on just two hits. Buena committed three errors in the inning, which actually started out with a DP strikeout. Jesus Salas, Micheel, Matt York and Jordan Drewisch each drove in a run, with York (another freshman) driving in his on a double to left field.
With a 6-0 cushion, Speier had room to throw strikes. He gave up a two-run homer to Buena (11-15, 5-8) catcher Collin Boys in the top of the third but kept his cool.
“That’s my mindset — don’t get rattled,” said the youngster.
He had to use that mindset on more than one occasion. Twice in the game he charged at bunts down the third base line and picked them up without having a chance to throw out the runner. Both times, third baseman Michael Spiritosanto may have had a decent shot at it. After the second time, in the top of the fourth, Speier turned his frustration into success, notching a strikeout and forcing a fly ball. The initial runner had been caught stealing on a nice throw from Salas, the catcher.
That kind of mental toughness is what allowed Mendoza to feel comfortable putting Speier on the mound to start the most important game of the year.
“Early on in the year, obviously, we might have thought twice here and there, but Gabe’s proven himself. He’s been in huge situations throughout the season… I had no question in my mind that he was gonna go out there and pitch well today,” said the coach.
Buena got right back in it in the top of the seventh on a three-run homer by Matt Burke, but a grounder to third ended the threat. Boys had a huge day for the Bulldogs in his final high school tilt, hitting a double and two solo homers.
Now that his team’s earned the gift of postseason life, Mendoza doesn’t plan to go out quietly.
“We’re excited, and like I told the kids I’m not satisfied with just making the playoffs. I want to make a run,” said Mendoza.
What a difference four days make.
DOS PUEBLOS 8, BUENA 6
Buena…002 010 3 — 6 7 3
Dos Pueblos…150 011 x — 8 12 2
Abeloe, Horigan (4) and Boys. Speier, Avila (7) and Salas.
2B — B: Boys. DP: York, Spiritosanto. HR — B: Boys 2 (3rd, solo; 5th, solo), Burke (7th inn., 2 on).
