Sports
BASEBALL: Colts Clinch Share of First PAL Bay Title
El Camino claims inaugural crown in PAL's top division behind 8-1 win at Aragon and Carlmont's loss to Burlingame; Knudson throws five-hitter and Kelly blasts three-run HR and finishes with five RBIs.
The Score: El Camino 8, Aragon 1.
The Star: El Camino High pitcher Steven Knudson recorded a five-hit complete-game victory that, along with Carlmont’s 6-3 home loss to Burlingame, gives the Colts a share of the program’s first Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division title. The senior right-hander struck out three and walked three in San Mateo on Friday afternoon. Knudson had a shutout working for five innings before giving up a solo home run to Aragon’s Tyler Outzen in the sixth.
The Turning Point: With one run already home, El Camino catcher Trevor Kelly (2-for-3, five RBIs) blasted a three-run homer off starting pitcher Christian Larsen (0-4), his second long ball of the season, over the rightfield fence. This gave the Colts a 4-0 lead, which was more than enough for Knudson (3-3).
The Quote: “We don’t worry about any other team than ourselves. We control our own destiny. We take it as far as we want to go.” -- El Camino catcher Trevor Kelly, on his team’s mind-set with two games left in the PAL Bay season.
What’s Next? El Camino (13-10-2, 9-3 PAL Bay) has two chances to secure the outright league championship. The Colts visit Terra Nova on Wednesday at 3:15 p.m., and then host the Tigers next Friday at the same time. Terra Nova (14-9-1, 7-5) moved into a three-way tie for second place (with Burlingame and Carlmont) behind an 11-8 win over Menlo-Atherton on Friday.
The Bottom Line: El Camino, No. 4 in Patch’s at the start of the week, made program history by claiming no worse than a shared championship in the PAL’s top division. The Colts have spent much of the season neck and neck with Carlmont atop the standings, but while the Scots were swept in a two-game series by Burlingame, El Camino took two straight games from last-place Aragon and now boasts a two-game lead, with two games remaining.
Notes: El Camino’s Tyler Rios hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the second. … Larsen only lasted one inning before being pulled for Trevor McNeil. McNeil threw 4 1/3 innings, which included three shutout frames and seven walks. … Aragon catcher Sam Pacholuk threw out two El Camino runners attempting to steal second and nearly picked off another runner off first.
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El Camino 8, Aragon 1
EC -- 420 002 0 – 8 7 2
A -- 000 001 0 – 1 5 2
WP: Knudson (3-3). LP: Larsen (0-4).
HR: Kelly, Rios (EC); Outzen (A). 2B: Knudson (EC); Pacholuk, Barrie (A). 2 hits: Kelly (EC). 5 RBI: Kelly (EC). 2 RBI: Rios (EC).
Records: El Camino 13-10-1, 9-3 PAL Bay. Aragon 8-14-2, 3-9.
