Anthony Martinez drives in five runs as De La Salle advances to the semifinals Tuesday against Liberty.
De La Salle’s Cal Randall, shown here in a game last week, helped lead the Spartans past San Ramon Valley on Friday in the North Coast Section Division I quarterfinals. CONCORD – For a moment Friday in the North Coast Section Division I quarterfinal contest between De La Salle and visiting San Ramon Valley, it appeared history might repeat itself.
But Spartans catcher Anthony Martinez laced a bases-loaded single for two of his five RBIs, leading third-seeded DLS to an 8-4 victory over San Ramon Valley, which ended the season at 16-11. “He’s one of the best hitters in Northern California,” said Spartans coach David Jeans, whose program has won 18 consecutive NCS games.
“It was a battle,” De La Salle starting pitcher Cal Randall said. “The defense held my back. They get acclimated to a lot of fields playing on this field.” Randall was lifted in the six after walking his sixth batter to lead off the inning. He struck out five and hit a batter. He didn’t allow a hit, according to the official scoring book, but a shot by SRV catcher Nick Putnam off the glove of Nava at second in the fourth easily could have been ruled a single.