Rivals Showcase All Out Talents And Focus In Classic Nail Biter
By Ben Wiley
Youth Writer for alamedanews.org (a special message about Ben follows this story.)
Photos by Larry Freeman
The Alameda High School (AHS) varsity baseball team (13-8) notched a two-game season sweep over league-rival Berkeley High School (11-10), defeating the visitors 4-3 in dramatic, come-from-behind, walk-off fashion.
This faceoff, at the city of Alameda’s Lincoln Park on April 29, was of utmost importance to both teams as it was the fourth-to-last game of their regular seasons. The two teams are now tied in the league standings as they entered Monday’s game neck and neck with Berkeley holding a 4-3 record and Alameda’s record 3-4.
A tale of two parallel worlds in this game. A near miss that later became a Berkeley run and a “got ‘em” that helped end a Yellowjacket threat for the time being.
Capping that, each team entered this contest riding two-game losing streaks they sought to snap. As a result, both sides displayed a massive amount of all-around effort and intensity from the first to the final pitch of this white knuckle, roller-coaster matchup.
AHS’ starting battery comprised of Freshman pitcher Archie Schullstrom and Senior catcher Luis Sanchez heavily contributed to their team’s victory. Getting to pitch for the fourth time this season, Schullstrom started strong, pitching a scoreless first inning.
Then, the Hornets struck first in the bottom of that inning. Berkeley’s Freshman pitcher Quinton Hill walked Alameda’s leadoff hitter Max Cohen, who came around to score from third base a few minutes later when the catcher Isaiah Mays’ throw to try to catch Schullstrom stealing second sailed into center field. Mays soon after redeemed himself by making an on-time tag of Schullstrom in a bang-bang play at home plate to limit the damage.
A few innings later, Berkeley broke through offensively to tie and then take the lead. With a runner at third and two outs in the third inning, Yellowjackets Senior center fielder Trey Johnson knocked a wind-aided drive to center field that the outfielder missed, the game’s first hit happening to bring home the tying run to knot the game at 1-1.
Shortstop defense was on fine display throughout the showdown as Alameda’s starting shortstop Sam Berger made a stellar play to save a run this inning, a feat matched by Berkeley shortstop Jackson Ehrlich to keep his side in front moving into what proved to be the final, fateful inning.
The visitors carried over their momentum into the fourth inning, taking a 2-1 lead on an RBI single by Senior left fielder Antonio Nordman. However, the Yellowjackets failed to capitalize on this golden opportunity as Schullstrom made huge pitches to escape from a bases-loaded, one-out situation. The hosts seized the momentum, tying the game on their first two hits, the latter a sizzling triple off the bat of Sanchez.
Not to be outdone by his pitching counterpart, Hill buckled down, striking out three straight Alameda hitters with the go-ahead run on third base. Sticking with the theme of missed scoring opportunities, the Yellowjackets could not bring Johnson home from third to pull ahead again.
After allowing a leadoff double to start the sixth inning, Schullstrom switched positions with Berger. Berkeley finally got the big hit they needed as pinch hitter Senior Manny Selles greeted the new pitcher with an RBI double down the right-field line to restore the Yellowjacket’s one-run lead.
In yet another of several on-field meetings to plan strategy by both sides in this tit-or-tat showdown, Berkeley sets up what would be the go-ahead run, at least for a time.
AHS attempted to respond but left the bases loaded thanks to the play mentioned above by the Berkeley defender.
Entering the bottom of the seventh, the last gasp for the Hornets who still trailed by one, the scrappy squad put together arguably their best offensive inning of the game against Senior pitcher Will O’Brien, who had relieved Hill and gotten the last out of the prior inning.
Schullstrom led off the inning with a bloop single to left field, took second due to a brief defensive bobble, moved to third on a wild pitch, and trotted home on Senior first baseman Will Aney’s hit to deep right field.
Despite Aney getting thrown out at second base, his team was not done. The next batter, Freshman Jaden Noonan, one of four the team starts this year, walked. Sanchez took the plate with a world of pressure on what would be the last at-bat for The Hornets. But would it bring victory or a stinging loss, another story of a close one that got away where all of the clutch plays and the near misses added up to a game that lived up to a Berkely coach’s fifth-inning dugout comment to a player that “This is baseball!”
So there it was, do or die for the Hornets, and Sanchez came through again with another rip that sailed over the right fielder’s head. Noonan initially held up at third, then dashed home to snag the winning run when the relay throw-in from the outfield got away.
Following the game, Schullstrom commented on his experience playing such a big role in this wild game and what this hard-fought win means for the team moving forward.
“It was really good, was exciting, fun. It’s great being with friends and playing baseball. I enjoy getting the ball every time. All season, we have been playing close games and lost a couple like last week, we lost two to Castro Valley, but this time we pulled it off,” Schullstrom said.
The Alameda High players’ fight and never-give-up attitude show that what their coaches are teaching has significantly impacted them.
Just how far that will take them is a story that awaits to be written.
“We teach even-keel. When things go bad or good, it’s got to be a straight line. We cannot have ups or downs and we preach that all year,” AHS Head Coach Ken Arnerich said.
This thrilling victory will likely boost AHS’ confidence heading into back-to-back league games against Bishop O’Dowd High School on May 1 and 3. On the other hand, Berkeley will have to regroup and get ready to play the league leader Piedmont High School on those days.
==========
Editor’s note about Ben Wiley: Ben is a rising talent from the Alameda Community who seeks to join the ranks of students at Arizona State University to fulfill his dream of becoming a well trained sports writer. In this first piece for ANN, Ben clearly shows his love for sports, the core value of dedication it takes to stick with an entire game, detailed, old school notepad in hand, and a great mind and eye for game dynamics. Alamedanews.org is pleased to have Ben’s contribution to community sports content, and we hope that this story and his talent, passion, follow through and sports loving spirit will inspire other youths in our community to take the opportunity to showcase their writing and photo journalism talents by writing for ANN.
Please see our Free Journalism Education Program and Student Internships offerings for more.