Redwood starting pitcher Jack Gurley (23) throws against Tam during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood second baseman Theo Trono (4) tags out PJ Ceral (12) of Tam trying to steal second base to end their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Jack Moseley (13) of Redwood hits an RBI single to give Redwood a 2-1 lead during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Tam second baseman Cooper Kift (6) makes a shuffle pass from his glove to force out a Redwood base runner at second base during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Tam third baseman Henry Stoll (15) moves to tag out Redwood base runner Gavin Soper (9) during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Tam relief pitcher Jack Hanna (99) throws against Redwood during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Tam catcher Devin Curtis (27) of Tam runs Redwood base runner Theo Trono (4) back towards third base during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Trono was eventually tagged out by Tam third baseman Henry Stoll. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Gavin Soper (9) of Tam slides into home past Tam catcher Devin Curtis (27) of Tam to tie the game 1-1 during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood second baseman Theo Trono (4) holds the ball as out PJ Ceral (12) of Tam reacts to being called out trying to steal second base to end their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood right fielder Jack Moseley (13) of Redwood loses a Tam fly ball for an error during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Tam catcher Devin Curtis (27) greets his pitcher Eli Solem (4) as Solem heads to the dugout after pitching out of a jam during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Tito Fierstein (7) of Tam is greeted by teammates after scoring on a Redwood error to give Tam a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Rex Solle (6) of Redwood is greeted by his dugout after scoring the go-ahead run on an RBI single by Jack Moseley during their North Coast Section Division II playoff game in Larkspur, Calif. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 15 Tam 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
In some ways, the North Coast Section prep baseball playoffs are like a big poker tournament. A good draw never hurts and everybody knows there’s plenty of dealing – as in pitching the ball – involved in each outcome.
And Redwood High, the MCAL champ and No. 2 seed in NCS Division II, was almost doomed by an ace in the hole.
In an opening round game Wednesday in Larkspur, Tam starting pitcher Eli Solem fired 5 2/3-innings of no-hit, scoreless baseball against heavily favored Redwood before the Giants finally broke through for a pair of runs in the fifth en route to a 2-1 victory against MCAL rival Tam, the No. 12 seed.
The Giants (24-3) continue their quest for an NCS title Saturday at 1 p.m. when they host Petaluma, which clipped Marin Catholic 9-8 on Wednesday in another first-round clash.
“I don’t care if you’re the No. 1 seed or the No. 100 seed,” Redwood coach Mike Firenzi said. “It just takes one great pitching performance to knock a team out. That kid over there threw a gem today.”
Fortunately for the Giants, they had a few aces up their sleeve as well.
Starting pitcher Jack Gurley was solid in his three-inning stint, scattering three hits and allowing just one unearned run in the third.
But the win went to hard-throwing reliever Chas Veley, who struck out nine of the 14 batters he faced and did not allow a runner beyond first base in the final four innings.
“The plan was for me to take over in the fourth,” Veley said. “But I wasn’t expecting to go all; the way through to the end. Everything was working and I was able to land my curve and changeup for strikes. I wasn’t getting behind hitters. I was just throwing strikes.”
Firenzi said he was prepared to bring in late closer Matthew Knauer if Veley ran into any kind of trouble. But Veley was so in control, the decision to keep him in was not a difficult one.
“Chas was throwing probably the best he’s thrown all year,” Firenzi said.
Still, the Giants kept their fans squirming in their seats before finally breaking through in the fifth.
“We weren’t really worried because it was still a one-run game,” Veley said. ”But Tam’s pitcher was great. He was landing that curveball for strikes, throwing it inside to right-handed batters and buckling their knees.”
The game-winning rally started on a walk to Chase Johnson, and one out later another walk to Gavin Soper, who delivered the walk-off game-winner Friday in the MCAL final.
Rex Solle’s hard shot was fielded by Tam third baseman Henry Stoll, who tagged the bag for the second out.
With runners on first and second designated hitter Sam Gersch broke the spell when he bounded a single to left for the Giants first hit, driving in Soper from second.
“Sam’s hit was huge,” Solle said. “It was exactly what we needed.”
Jack Moseley, first-pitch swinging, rifled a shot into left field and Solle dove into home plate with what turned out to be the winning run.
“I think we have what it takes,” Solle said. “We’ve proven we can handle the pressure by winning several of these kinds of close games this season.”
The only player in the game with multiple hits was Tam center fielder Will Gensler, who delivered three singles.
