LA COSTA CANYON HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

San Diego Union Tribune By John Maffei

 The baseball game didn't start exactly how Ross Goldschlag had planned.  Pitching in relief of La Costa Canyon starter Spencer Jones, Goldschlag gave up a bases-loaded triple to the first batter he faced.  Then, in hs first complete inning, he was tagged for three more runs. But the junior right-hander settled in, holding host Rancho Bernardo scoreless over the next 3 2/3 innings as the seventh seeded Mavericks hung on to win 13-9 in an Open Division slugfest on Elimination Saturday.

  LCC (23-9) advances to play at Torrey Pines on Tuesday May 29th and must beat the Falcons twice to advance to the championship. Torrey Pines needs just one win to play for a CIF Open Division Title.  Rancho Bernardo, the 4th seed, finished 25-8.

  "It was a matter of settling in and finding my off-speed stuff," Goldschlag said. "I've been pitching in relief of Spencer. I have his back.  We knew we were in a dogfight, so I tried to relax in between innings, playing Missy Elliott songs in my head."

  LCC totaled 13 hits, including home runs by Chris Neveau and Brady Lavold, along with four walks and two batters being hit by pitches.  Catcher Carter Cooperman drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double and later had an RBI double.  "The best thing for a catcher is to be in sync with his pitcher."  Cooperman said. "I put down the sign, and Ross attacked the strike zone.  It was a privilege to set up and catch him. The four RBI's were a bonus."

  RB had eight hits, including a home run by Miles Cook, drew six walks and had a batter hit by a pitch.  But the Broncos stranded six runners in scoring position. Every starter but one reached base at least once, and 12 players reached at least twice.

  " I've been in a million  LCC-RB games, and I've never seen one like that," LCC coach Machado said. "You usually don't come out on the winning end of a slugest with RB."