Perfect Panthers -- CCS Champions

An amazing BHS baseball season came to a hugely successful conclusion tonight at the San Jose Municipal stadium as the Panthers knocked off a Palo Alto high school team that was on a 23-game winning streak.  The Central Coast Sectional championships include teams from S.F. to Monterey in 3 divisions based on the size of the schools.  16 teams make the Sectionals in each division and only one wins four games in a row to take it all--this year it is the Panthers.

I've been watching Panther baseball closely for the last four years and it is clear to me that the secret sauce this year has been the defense.  Tonight's win featured great pitching by D.J. Sharabi, who got the win, and Zach Grotz who got the save.  It also featured a 5-run B'game explosion in the top of the 1st inning which has been rare for this team.  But the three double plays and error-free play for the whole game was the key.  The 5-run gut punch in the 1st was bookended by a somersaulting 9-3 double play by co-captain Forrest Armanino to end the game like a lightning strike.  The Panthers did not make a single fielding error in all four games!

Four error-free games leading to a championship is a coach's dream and may have been the deciding factor in head coach Rich Sciutto announcing his retirement on the bus ride back to B'game.  Scuitto and assistant coaches Ray Mellado and Joe McKane will step down from the top step in 2010 and let a younger generation of coaches guide the Panthers from here.  Ladies and gents here are your 2010 Division 2 CCS champion Burlingame Panthers at today's introduction with Coach Sciutto (#32)

And here is the dogpile after the game-ending double play courtesy of local photog Mark Hundley and his giant Nikon

Comments

[Holyroller]

I am happy for them.
Who cares?

[Joe]

Upon further review, Zach Grotz was covering 1st base on the game ending DP, so the correct scoring would be 9-1. Not something you see everyday!

I take it you are not a baseball fan, Holy Roller?

[alittlebird]

So cool. Congrats to all.

[BoogeyMan]

Happy kids- congratulations!

[Joe]

Here's nice recognition for one of the team co-captains from the Daily Journal

Hard-core baseball people believe statistics can be manipulated in so many ways as to render them virtually useless in assessing a player. What’s the old saying: There are lies, damn lies and statistics?

Sometimes, however, stats give an indication of just how dominating a baseball player is. Take the case of recent Burlingame graduate, pitcher Forrest Armanino, the 2010 Daily Journal Baseball Player of the Year. Armanino made 14 appearances, including 12 starts and went 11-0. He had an earned run average of 1.12. In 68 innings pitched, he allowed only 38 hits, struck out 80 while walking 38, a 2-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio that would make any pitcher envious. He threw three complete games, two shutouts and threw a one-hitter against Aragon. And perhaps his most impressive stat: Allowed only five extra-base hits — one homer, one triple and five doubles.

The full article is at http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?type=sports&title=Baseball%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%20-%20Forrest%20Armanino&id=133638

[Barking Dog]

I have been up in the Reno area for most of the past 9 weeks preparing for our permanent move up this way. As I was was walking the dog last night, I saw something I haven't seen in a long time, a little league practice taking place. I watched for almost an hour, just enjoying the sound of the ball coming off of the bat, the ball popping in the glove and the kids enjoying themselves. Almost a sense of normalcy.

10yrs ago this weekend, I remember watching this game as if it were yesterday. I watched most, if not all, of this teams games as my nephew was helped coach them. I remember him telling me that in practice, the coaches used to have to get on Zac Grotz for covering empty bags, as he was forgetful in doing this. Low and behold, he covered the empty bag when it mattered most to end the game.

Like most of us missing things we enjoy during these times, watching a youth baseball practice yesterday, made me really miss walking the dog, smoking a cigar and maybe having an adult beverage from beyond the outfield fence at Washington Park, watching the night games.

[Joe]

Ah, Barking Dog. You are yanking at my heartstrings perhaps harder than you realize. In addition to what you said about the sounds of baseball, especially youth baseball, you brought back this special post.

I'm not sure if you know that the kid on the top right of the dogpile is my son Nick. We lost Nick to cancer (sarcoma) about 3 years ago. Many kids on this team and his other teams came to the service and the memorial and shared stories. Seeing this picture and noting the tenth anniversary in a week is the high point of my week - maybe my month. Thank you.

[Eric N]

Cant believe this was 10 years ago. Thanks to my uncle for remembering this special team and sending me the Daily Jounal article today from the archives.
Special kids and a special team. Pleasure and privilege to be able to be a small part of all these kids baseball experience @ BHS.

[Joe]

Thank you, Eric. You were a key contributor to the coaching staff for this team and many others. Since today is the actual 10th anniversary, here is the link to the DJ article of a couple of days ago--with another great photo of the dogpile and a great write-up of the game by Emanuel Lee:

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/local/from-the-sports-archives-burlingame-captures-title/article_99b70cc8-9fb7-11ea-af89-6b9fad9010e4.html#utm_source=smdailyjournal.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Fheadlines%2F%3F-dc%3D1590674419&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline