The Palo Alto Vikings’ baseball team won its third straight game over league rival Milpitas on Tuesday, 3-0, which puts them in a good position to secure fifth place in the league by the week’s end.
Junior starting pitcher Matthew Tracy, in only his second outing of the year, threw a two-hit complete game shutout, a first for the Paly pitching staff. While the Vikings lost both regular season games to Milpitas with pitchers from the regular rotation, it seemed improbable that Tracy would be the only one to stop the Trojans.
“To get a performance from a guy like that in a game like this is huge,” junior catcher Will Holder said.
Tracy did not surrender a hit until the fifth inning, when he lost his no-hit bid on a weak infield single to freshman second baseman T.J. Braff. Tracy needed only just 79 pitches to complete the seven-inning game.
Holder played his first full game as catcher, filling the spot of regular senior catcher Peter Abrams. Holder looked smooth behind the plate and even threw out the Trojans’ first and only steal attempt. Holder is not new to playing different positions; he has played every position this year except for pitcher.
The Vikings got just enough runs to feel comfortable on Tuesday.
The Viking offense, coming off a recent hot streak after a pair of big victories over Gunn, sputtered in the face of superior Milpitas pitching. Milpitas’ starting pitcher Jeff Webb matched Tracy’s complete game and surrendered only three hits himself. Using a biting curve ball early and often, Webb kept Viking hitters off balance all day.
“We couldn’t really figure out his off-speed pitches, but we didn’t need many runs with Tracy pitching,” junior Michael Rizza said.
Senior shortstop Tyger Pederson hit Webb’s first pitch of the day through the right-center gap, a hit that rolled to the fence for a lead-off triple. It was the Vikings’ best hit of the day.
“Tyger’s been so consistent this year,” Tracy said. “He’s so consistent as a lead-off hitter.”
Sophomore centerfielder Joc Pederson followed up with a walk to put runners on the corners. When Joc stole second, an errant throw into center allowed T. Pederson to score and put the Vikings up, 1-0.
The Vikings put up two runs in the fifth inning. Connor Raftery, a sophomore who was recently called up, walked to start the inning. Tyger Pederson was hit by a pitch, and a fast ball advanced both Tyger and Raftery, to put runners on second and third. Joc Pederson then hit a grounder to the Trojans’ second baseman to bring Raftery home, and Holder doubled down the left field line to bring in Pederson. The Vikings found themselves up with a solid 3-0 lead, a score that remained until the end of the game.
The Vikings will play Milpitas again Thursday afternoon at home to see if they can win the series. While the mini tournament in which the Vikings are playing does determine final league standings, it does not determine Central Coast Section (CCS) playoff placement. The CCS meeting will occur this Saturday and will determine who makes the tournament. The Vikings hope for a bid to the tournament.
“There’s not much left we can do to help our chances,” Holder said.
While the Vikings did not automatically qualify for CCS, as they failed to finish in the top three spots in the league, they can still win the at-large bid for the Section playoffs. A team that does not automatically make the tournament can still find their way in by performing well in non-league games and having a strong schedule.