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5/16/19

NOTE: This is a straight-forward game recap, any scouting notes/stats/extended videos for players from this game can be found within their profiles.

CARMICHAEL, CA - Two teams, #21 Turlock Bulldogs and #24 Jesuit Marauders, ranked in our Power 25 squared off in a Sac-Joaquin Section D1 2nd round playoff game, the only game in the section that was played on a rainy Thursday afternoon. The artificial turf infield at Jesuit HS made that possible, and Turlock made the call to make the extended drive in the hopes of playing the game.

In a hotly contested game, Jesuit continued it's strong late season push with a 4-2 win, coming back from an early 2-0 deficit. Starting on the mound for Turlock was senior LHP Casey Carr (CSU Stanislaus commit), who entered the game with a 0.00 ERA, having given up only two runs all season in 35 innings pitched. He was opposed by hard-throwing 2020 RHP Andy Owen (USC commit) of Jesuit, who came out with some of his best stuff, with a fastball up to 92 mph in the early innings. For Jesuit, 2019 1B/LHP Carter Benbrook (UC Santa Barbara commit) was a key player, driving in the two runs that accounted for the 4-2 final and also throwing three outstanding innings in relief of Owen.

Owen worked a scoreless top of the 1st inning, working around a line drive single by two-hole 2020 3B Cole Carrigg (San Diego State commit) who laced a 92 mph fastball right through the middle. Turlock 2020 C Tyler Soderstrom (UCLA commit) put a good swing on another fastball but grounded into a fielder's choice and was left stranded as the inning ended.

Carr set down the Marauders in the bottom of the first, though a ball slammed to right field by two-hole 2020 C Daniel Susac looked like a sure double, only to hang up in the very stiff wind blowing in. Senior RF Garret Fountain (San Diego State football - linebacker) gracefully ran it down and then Carr got 2019 1B/LHP Carter Benbrook to softly line out to the 2nd baseman.

The first scoring of the game took place in the top of the 2nd inning. With two outs Fountain walked (two out walks... they seem to score 90% of the time) and then Carr took matters into his own hands. He lined a first pitch fastball from Owen and the ball was hit harder than anticipated by Jesuit senior RF Sam Daly, who took too direct of an angle to the ball. Fountain was able to score all the way from 1st base. He was flying around the bags and watching his strides and athleticism it was a glimpse of what he must look like on a football field. Owen ended the inning with a strikeout of the 9-hole hitter.

Jesuit went quietly in the bottom of the 2nd, with only Daly reaching on an E5. Turlock went three up and three down in the top of the 3rd inning, as did Jesuit in the bottom half. In the top of the 4th was when the Bulldogs tacked on their second run. 2021 1B Dominic Rodriguez (Cal commit) reached on a one error by the 3rd baseman, got to third base on a single through the right side and good piece of hitting by Clay Souza, and scored on a ground ball up the middle by Fountain. It wasn't hit hard but was just to the left of the shortstop and got the job done. Off the bat it looked as though it might be a double play ball. With two runners on, Owen buckled down and got the next two batters, but Jesuit trailed 2-0.

Now, a 2-0 deficit isn't a lot, but Jesuit has had trouble scoring runs all season and it felt like a bigger lead than 2-0, especially with a pitcher on the mound with a 0.00 ERA. However, the Marauders broke through in the bottom of the 4th inning, changing the complexion of the game. Susac bounced a ball through the right side for a lead-off single, followed by an F8 by Benbrook. With one out Daly singled softly through the middle, putting two runners on with one out.

The next batter was junior Aiden Isola, who chopped a ball to 3rd baseman Carrigg, who threw to 2nd base to force Daly, who went hard into the bag and definitely upset the rhythm of the 2nd baseman who then made an ill-advised attempt to turn the double play. The throw got past the 1st baseman which allowed Susac to score and allowed Isola to get to 2nd base. The ball was hit too slowly to turn two and then with the hard slide, the ball should have just been held. In any case, senior outfielder Will Asbythen stepped up and grounded a 5-6 hopper up the middle, JUST out of the reach of the 2nd baseman, driving in Isola and knotting the game at two apiece.

Owen went out to start the 5th inning but after walking Turlock lead-off hitter 2019 SS Mason King (UC San Diego commit) he was lifted in favor of Benbrook. Staring at the 2-3-4 hitters and with a speedy runner on 1st base and none out, the task looked daunting, however, Benbrook was certainly up to it. King did steal 2nd base, but Benbrook got Carrigg swinging and Jesuit intentionally walked Soderstrom. Turlock's 4-hole hitter 2B Justin Hines (CSU Stanislaus) was next, with two on and one out.

Benbrook got Hines to ground out softly to shortstop and then with runners at 2nd and 3rd he was set to face Rodriguez. After bouncing two offspeed pitches that Susac deftly blocked (remember, with the leading run standing at 3rd base), he broke out one of better change-ups and got a ground ball to 2021 3B Drake Bicknell (recently called up to varsity), who stayed calm, fielded it cleanly and threw a strike across the diamond. Uncle Mo seemed to have turned in favor of Jesuit.

In the bottom of the 5th Jesuit got their first hitter junior Sam Balestreri on via a walk. Bicknell struck out and then 2020 OF Mitchell Parker sacrificed Balestreri to 2nd base, ahead of Susac's at-bat. Predictably and wisely, Turlock intentionally walked Susac, but that would bring up Benbrook, who seems to have a flair for the dramatic. Almost exactly a year ago I saw him throw a CG and drive in the only run in a 1-0 win over Elk Grove, on a ball he hammered into right centerfield. Well, he did it again, this time slamming a double to just about the same spot (looked for a second like it might carry out of the yard), scoring Balestreri and Susac and giving Jesuit a 4-2 lead.

Benbrook buzzed through Turlock in the top of the 6th, striking out two and getting Carr to line out to centerfield. Jesuit went quietly in the bottom of the 6th. In the top of the 7th Turlock had their 9-1-2 hitters lined up. Benbrook struck out the first batter, but then King grounded a ball into centerfield and Carrigg was hit by a pitch. Two runners one, 3-hole Soderstrom coming to the plate. However, Benbrook stayed calm and threw three nasty pitches to strike out the aggressive Soderstrom, ending the at-bat on a curveball. He then got a weak ground ball to shortstop and that was it, a 4-2 win and a trip to the semi-finals for Jesuit.

With the win Jesuit advanced to the semi-finals on Saturday May 18, vs the winner of the Franklin v Folsom game. Turlock's season comes to an end with a record of 22-7 and a CCA league title. They will return to of the elite 2020 talents in the region with Soderstrom and Carrigg and also one of the outstanding 2021's with Rodriguez. Carrigg, Soderstrom, Susac, and Owen will all be at the June 9 PBR ProCase at Delta College, among a group of elite 2020 talents.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Northern California Underclass ID	CA	05/26	Islanders Field
Inland Empire Futures Games Trials	CA	06/01	Norco High School
SoCal ProCase	CA	06/08	Hart Park
Northern California ProCase	CA	06/09	Delta College - Nick Cecchetti Field
Bay Area Open Showcase	CA	06/26	Laney College
Inland Empire Top Prospect ID	CA	07/23	Santiago High School
Norcal Top Prospect ID	CA	07/24	St. Mary's College
Junior Future Games / Future Games	NATIONAL	07/30	LakePoint
Rising Stars Showcase	CA	09/21	Santiago High School

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