Hunter Estabrook's walk-off double sends Maria Carrillo on to second round of NCS tournament

Hunter Estabrook lashed a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Maria Carrillo baseball team to an 8-7 victory against visiting Alameda Tuesday in the opening round of the NCS Division 2 tournament.

The seventh began with the Pumas leading 5-4 only to have the Hornets score three runs on four hits and a walk in the top of the inning.

Andrew Vaughn started the rally in the bottom of the inning with a single and Aidan Nagle’s home run tied the game.

Then with two outs, pinch hitter John Nieman singled to left field and advanced to second on a passed ball.

That set the stage for Estabrook’s heroics. In his first plate appearance of the game, the senior smacked a low outside fastball to the gap in right center field. Chris Latorre, who pinch ran for Nieman, scored easily.

“That’s my first walk-off hit ever,” Estabrook said. “I’ll never forget it.

“I barreled up and hit it well. I got the pitch I was looking for.”

The hit set off a celebration on the field.

“My teammates dog piled me. It was a great moment.”

Carrillo (18-9), champion of the North Bay League, came in as the No. 4 seed. Alameda (14-12) was pegged No. 13.

Despite being down two runs coming up to their last at-bats, coach Derek DeBenedetti wasn’t nervous.

“You don’t want to be down in the last inning,” he said. “However, this team doesn’t make me nervous. They’re capable of anything.

“They work hard, have a lot of heart and no quit.”

The Pumas finished with nine hits. Jo Bynum and Aidan Nagle led the way with two apiece and both homered.

Vaughn pitched a complete game and improved his record to 10-1. He gave up 10 hits, but DeBenedetti stuck with him.

“I have 100 percent faith in Andrew,” the coach said. “Even in the seventh, I knew he could get us out of the jam.”

In the second round on Saturday, Carrillo will host the winner of today’s game pitting Washington against Arroyo.

CASA GRANDE 8, ?RANCHO COTATE 2

The Gauchos knocked off the visiting Cougars for the third time season and advanced to the second round in Division 2.

Casa will host the winner of today’s game between Ukiah and Northgate.

The Gauchos scored three times in the second inning and never relinquished the lead. A.J. Miller’s double knocked in the first two runs and Brian Kolodin’s double knocked in the other run. The home team banged out a dozen hits with Kolodin, Eddie Bermudez and Spencer Torkelson each finishing with two.

Chris Joaquim pitched the first five innings and allowed one earned run while striking out four.

Casa’s record is 21-5. The Cougars finished at 9-16.

ANALY 10, ?BISHOP O’DOWD 5

The Tigers rallied from a four-run deficit to get the victory at home.

Analy trailed 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth before erupting for six runs.

In the second round, the Tigers will play the winner of today’s Division 3 game between Albany and San Rafael.

Analy was able to turn things around when O’Dowd starting pitcher Leo Nierenberg left the game after throwing 100 pitches.

“He’s going to the University of Washington on scholarship,” Tigers coach Jeff Ogston said. “We knew he would be tough.”

Josh Cleto was brought in and pinch hitter Keaton Bates belted a bases-loaded double to left center field for two runs and Drew Valez followed that with a single to right center for two more runs.

Devon Ogston then singled in the go-ahead score and David Codoni knocked in the sixth with a single.