CONCORD — Foothill hadn’t overwhelmed De La Salle in seven years, a skid of 13 video games.
Within the earlier spherical of those league playoffs two days earlier, De La Salle overcame a four-run deficit within the seventh inning and a two-run gap within the eighth to beat San Ramon Valley and advance to the ultimate.
So not even a three-run lead for Foothill on Friday within the East Bay Athletic League championship recreation felt secure as De La Salle got here to bat within the residence half of the seventh.
However Tyler Gebb wouldn't be denied.
The 6-foot-3 junior accomplished a gem as Foothill celebrated a 4-1 victory that gave the Falcons their first outright EBAL title since 1988 and put Gebb within the college report e-book.
The victory was his twelfth this season, breaking the college mark set by Brad Bergesen twenty years in the past. Bergesen went on to pitch 4 seasons within the huge leagues.
(14) pitches against De La Salle in the seventh inning during the East Bay Athletic League baseball championship at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., on Friday, May 13, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)" width="4800" data-sizes="auto" data-src="https://i0.wp.com/www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BNG-L-DLSBASEBALL-0513-4.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"/>
Gebb allowed an unearned run within the first as a bad-hop single to proper was misplayed within the outfield for 2 extra bases. Two batters later, De La Salle scored on a power out.
From there, Gebb retired the facet so as within the second, third and fifth innings.
“He’s a strike-thrower, across the plate with three pitches,” Foothill coach Angelo Scavone mentioned. “And we play good D. Our protection has been phenomenal all 12 months.”
Foothill (22-4) scored three runs with Evan Bilter within the batter’s field within the fifth. A wild pitch broke a 1-1 tie and Bilter adopted with a two-run single to middle to make it 4-1.
Bilter is batting a team-high .451.
“I used to be simply attempting to do my job for the group,” he mentioned. “I’m glad I did. That was enormous.”
De La Salle (20-6) put two runners on within the sixth, however Gebb received a flyout and a groundout to finish the risk. Within the seventh, Gebb issued a stroll with two out after which received a floor ball to first to finish the sport.
He completed with three walks and no strikeouts.
De La Salle had two hits.
“It felt actually good,” Gebb mentioned. “I used to be simply attempting to get my fastball situated on the skin nook. I didn’t let (the first-inning run) have an effect on me. Dangerous hop. There may be nothing you are able to do about it. Maintain competing.”
When it ended, Gebb and his teammates celebrated the championship and the top of this system’s 13-game dropping streak to De La Salle.
“It’s unreal,” Gebb mentioned. “It’s one thing I’ve been dreaming of earlier than the season began, being on the mound within the final inning.”
Now each groups will head to the North Coast Part Division I playoffs, the primary since 2019 due to the pandemic.
Foothill will in all probability be the highest seed, however De La Salle has received the previous 4 D-I titles (2016-2019).
“We’re not going to hold our heads on this recreation,” De La Salle coach David Denims mentioned. “There’s a much bigger prize. We’re used to that. We’ll be prepared for that. However they received us at the moment.”
Remaining: Foothill 4, De La Salle 1 | FH wins EBAL title | @Tyler_Gebb14 with a pitching gem | @leftwich@VytasMazeika@JensenPhil@GReeves23@THE_EBAL_SPORTSpic.twitter.com/DrtxboXcH2
— Darren Sabedra (@DarrenSabedra) Could 14, 2022