Prep baseball: Marin Catholic savors a victory at Oracle Park
Emmet George didn’t get a chance to play in the wide-open spaces of a Major League ballpark last year in Marin Catholic’s previous visit to the home of the San Francisco Giants. He soaked up every precious moment on Saturday as he pitched the Wildcats to a 6-0 victory over MCAL rival San Marin in Marin Catholic’s return to Oracle Park.
“This was a great experience to be out here,” said George, who was recovering from elbow surgery when the Wildcats played San Rafael at Oracle Park in 2022. “I felt good out there. I got a little tired, but my teammates picked me up.”
George rang up six strikeouts and allowed four hits in a complete-game effort. He was also 2 for 4 at the plate wit ha double.
Mustangs starter John Holtz was touched for eight hits and a run, while he struck out five batters through five innings.
“This was an awesome experience,” said Holtz, who transferred to San Marin from Marin Catholic. “You couldn’t ask for much more than this, even though we lost. I love this team and to go play in in the home of the San Francisco Giants is incredible.”
Marin Catholic (8-1, 5-1) got two hits — including a double — from both Brad Burnes and Nicholas Ferraro, as well as two hits from Maddox Thompson.
Sean McGrath led the Mustangs (6-6, 4-4) with two hits, while Erik Bach and Holtz had the only other hits for San Marin.
After congratulating their friends with Saint Ignatius on a victory over Sacred Heart Cathedral in the day’s early game, the Wildcats marched on to the field to take care of business.
After Jayden Lee scored on a Carl Schmidt base hit to give Marin Catholic a 1-0 lead in the first inning, San Marin managed to keep the game close through five innings, despite a few scares. Marin Catholic loaded the bases in the second, but Holtz struck out Schmidt to end the inning. The Wildcats again loaded the bases in the third inning, only to see the opportunity vanish as San Marin turned an inning-ending double play.
The wheels fell off the San Marin wagon in the sixth inning, however. With Marin Catholic’s Thompson on first, the pickoff throw bounced away from the first baseman, allowing Thompson to take second base. Thompson advanced to third on another failed pickoff attempt, then the desperate throw to third sailed wide, sending Thompson across home plate for a 2-0 Marin Catholic lead.
The Wildcats again loaded the bases. The next batter up, Jake Lyall, was hit by a pitch to force in a run, then George scored on a wild pitch for a 4-0 Marin Catholic lead.
“Things just kind of fell apart there toward the end,” Holtz said.
San Marin committed a costly five errors in the game.
The Wildcats tagged on two more runs in the top of the seventh inning with some solid hitting.
Marin Catholic has a two-game series with Tam next week, while San Marin has a home-and-home series with crosstown rival Novato.