PA Oaks sweep to 15-1 mark PA Oaks sweep to 15-1 mark (July 28, 2004)

Duran hits for cycle, finishes with 3 homers and 11 RBI in two games

by Keith Peters

The Palo Alto Oaks are running away with the Western Baseball Association (Stan Musial Division) and they're not making a lot of friends doing it.

The Oaks (15-1) swept the visiting Hayward Tigers in a doubleheader Sunday at Baylands Athletic Center, 16-1 and 10-4.

After being touched for 16 runs and 19 hits in the opener, which saw Gabe Duran hit for the cycle and drive in eight runs, Hayward retaliated in the second game.

The Oaks' Sean Scott was thrown at twice before finally being plunked on the thigh. That emptied the benches for the second time during the day, but no punches were thrown.

Duran added salt to the Tigers' wound by slamming another homer in the second game and driving in three runs. He finished the doubleheader with three homers, a triple, double, single, scored four runs and drove in 11.

In the opener, Greg Matson added a homer among his three hits and drove in two. Art Battle also had three hits, as did Gary Mullins. That made it easy for starter Matt Campbell, who pitched a complete game and struck out nine while allowing just five hits.

In the nightcap, Andrew Hansen led Palo Alto with three hits while Scott and Brian Beres each had a pair of hits to help Matson pick up the win. The former Gunn High standout struck out eight and allowed four hits in six innings.

Babe Ruth

The Palo Alto 14-year-old all-star team has a few, well-deserved days off before returning to the field. It's a perfect time to reflect on what has happened, enjoy the results and take a breather.

Palo Alto certainly can use that breather, especially following Thursday night's marathon doubleheader in the finals of the Northern California State Tournament at Wilson Park in Vallejo.

Palo Alto, the only undefeated team left in the double-elimination event, began its quest for the championship with a 6 p.m. game against Woodland. The Sacramento-based team, however, ruined Palo Alto's early evening by posting a 16-6 victory that was shortened to six innings by the 10-run rule. That forced a second, challenge game that started at 9:11 p.m.

Forced into a win-or-go-home situation, Palo Alto bounced back from the first loss and cruised to a 15-8 triumph that ended at 12:17 a.m. this morning.

"These kids never quit," said Palo Alto manager Rick Farr. "Everyone was huge in getting the job done. They came right back in the first inning of the second game with three runs and never let up. I'm very proud of them."

Next up for Palo Alto will be the Western Regionals in Murray, Utah, set for Aug. 4-11.

That trip was in doubt after Palo Alto committed seven errors and fell to Woodland in the opener. Earlier in the week, Palo Alto trailed Woodland by 4-0, before rallying for a 6-5 triumph.

Palo Alto didn't waste any time in the second game as Cameron Susk and Stephen Lumpkins kept Woodland in check while their teammates unloaded 13 hits and coasted to the triumph.

Other team members include Dustin Cottrell, Michael Olmstead, Peter Abrams, John Bordy, Jay Perlman, Michael Bugatto, Alex Zeglin, Tyger Pederson, Matt Mosher, Ryan Quirk, Will Elmore, Eric Davila and Ian Powell.

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