CCS baseball playoffs: Bellarmine’s phenomenal pitching, timely hitting nets D-II title

SAN JOSE — Paul Montgomery was the story of the game.

The senior right-hander heading to Cal Poly-SLO for college was simply dominating Friday, pitching a three-hit shutout with one walk and nine strikeouts at Excite Ballpark as Bellarmine defeated Leigh 2-0 for the Central Coast Section Division II championship.

“It was nerve-wracking but I’m glad I got through it,” Montgomery said. “It was super exciting.”

Montgomery improved to 7-1 on the season and lowered his ERA to 0.93.

“Paul was unbelievable,” Bellarmine coach Nate Sutton said. “Over 100 pitches, out there all night, hitting his spots, a tremendous job, Hats off to him. He’s been unbelievable all season.”

Leigh starter Miles Lu matched zeroes with Montgomery through the first four innings. But in the fifth, Bellarmine’s Lucas Lipari reached on a two-base error to lead off the inning.

Nolan Randol bunted him over to third. With one out Thomas Trombatore hit a popup behind first base that fell in alongside the right-field line to score the first run of the game. A second run scored when Chris Rudell drew a bases-loaded walk.

That was all Montgomery needed. With a motion that hides the ball well and a step towards the third-base line that makes him tough on right-handed batters (he also hit four batters), he struck out the side in the seventh inning, initiating the Bellarmine celebration.

Bellarmine improved to 20-12-1.

Though there was not much offense in the game, Bellarmine’s Chase Knight had two hits and a walk in three at-bats.

“Chase is a three-year starting shortstop for us,” Sutton said. “Always a steady guy, great defensive player, always seems to come up with clutch hits.”

Leigh (19-11) came up a little short in its bid for a CCS title, but coach Drew Marino saw it as a step forward for the program.

“I’m just really proud of these guys, they battled all night,” Marino said. “Montgomery was really good tonight. Miles went toe to toe with him. We took some competitive at-bats, lined out with guys in scoring position.

“Playing two WCAL schools in the playoffs, beating Sacred Heart Cathedral in the first round, beating a real good Aptos team in the semifinals. We lost to Mitty in the first round last year. Getting to the D-II finals this year is a big step forward for the program.”