BASEBALL: Huge Comeback Powers Cap in Thriller

The Score: Cap 9, Woodside 8 (9 inn.).

The Star: Capuchino High senior Cory Faubel made up for two errors in the first inning of the Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division game, and almost single-handedly carried the host Mustangs to a remarkable come-from-behind victory in extra innings. Faubel (3-for-4) was a home run short of the cycle, drove in five runs and scored the game-winner on Christian Bautista’s sacrifice fly on Thursday afternoon. He also came in to pitch, tossing four strong relief innings to get the win, giving up one run and striking out four. For his efforts, Capuchino coach Matt Wilson gave Faubel the game ball, which according to Faubel, is something that Wilson rarely ever does.

“I was not gonna let that go,” Faubel said of his errors in the first inning. “I had it down in me that I was going to get it back some way.”

“He stepped up and said, ‘You know what, I’m not gonna let my teammates down,’”said teammate Tim Gretter. “He shined.”

The Turning Point: With the Mustangs down 7-2 in the sixth, Faubel raked a belt-high fastball into the gap to drive in two runs. An inning later, with Capuchino trailing 8-4 and down to its last out, Faubel tripled to clear the bases with a majestic shot into left field, trimming the Woodside lead to a run. Faubel scored on the next at-bat to force extra innings when Lucci Molina reached on an infield single.

The Quote: “Over the course of the season, we probably have more errors than hits.” -- Mustangs junior first basemen Tim Gretter said on his team’s shaky defense.

What's Next? Capuchino concludes its regular season with a two-game set against South San Francisco starting next Thursday. Thursday’s contest begins at 3:15 p.m. at Orange Park in South City, while Friday’s game will be under the lights at San Bruno Park, with first pitch at 7 p.m.

 The Bottom Line: Capuchino (13-10-1, 9-3 PAL Ocean) is now in the driver’s seat to clinch a spot in the Central Coast Section playoffs. With two games left for both teams, the Mustangs hold a one-game lead over Woodside (11-14, 8-4) for second place behind Half Moon Bay. The top two teams in the PAL Ocean receive automatic bids to CCS. … This was a game that the Mustangs probably didn’t deserve to win. In the field, Capuchino was sloppy, to put it nicely, committing seven errors. All the runs Woodside scored were either direct or indirect results of Capuchino’s poor defense. In the middle of the fourth, Wilson rallied the Mustangs in the bullpen and gave it to his team for its breakdowns out on the field. That triggered something as Capuchino mounted a comeback from down 7-1 to walk off on Woodside. Ironically, Woodside did the same thing to Capuchino two days ago when Woodside won the extra-inning tilt 10-9.

Notes: Molina, who got the start for Capuchino, battled through some control issues, and pitched five innings. He walked four and threw four wild pitches. Molina entered the game with a record of 3-1 and a 3.55 ERA. … Gretter, who led the team in hitting with a .506 average coming into the game, went 1-for-3 and drew two walks. He had a chance to end the game in the eighth inning, but struck out with the bases loaded. … Capuchino didn’t get a hit off of Woodside starter John Buchman until a Gretter single with one out in the bottom of the fourth. … Leadoff hitter John Wild remained perfect stealing bases as he swiped his 13th bag of the year in the sixth inning. … Game time temperature at first pitch was 76 degrees.

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Capuchino 9, Woodside 8 (9 inn.)

W – 020 230 100 – 8 8 1

C – 000 112 401 – 9 10 7

WP: Faubel (2-0). LP: Mejia (2-2).

3B: Faubel (C). 2B: Faubel (C). 3 hits: Tam (W); Faubel (C). 2 hits: Cockrum (W); Molina, Davis (SSF).

Records: Woodside 11-14, 8-4 PAL Ocean. Capuchino 13-10-1, 9-3.

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