Finally! Pacifica ends wait for league title

CYPRESS - Baseball coaches are accustomed to going to their bullpens late in games to bring in an ace reliever to close out the victory.

That wasn't the case for Pacifica coach Mike Caira on Tuesday afternoon. Caira went to his bullpen to start the third inning and inserted No. 1 starter Brett Gerritse.

The rest is history.

Gerritse (9-1) pitched five innings, allowing two hits and striking out five to lead Pacifica to a 5-0 road victory over Cypress that clinched the Empire League title.

"Our goal is to always make the playoffs and to play well," Caira said. "These guys have been unbelievable."

The title is the first for Pacifica (19-7, 11-3) in baseball in 27 years.

"We were fortunate enough to get out to a big lead," Caira said. "And then Brett (Gerritse) looked at me and he said, 'Coach give me the ball.' He's been the man all year."

Gerritse replaced starter Keith Myrwold, who pitched the first two innings.

"You have to go out and do your job no matter what inning you're brought in," Gerritse said.

"This (Cypress) is my old school I went there in my freshman and sophomore years. My adrenaline was pumping. … It felt good."

Gerritse retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced.

Pacifica scored a run in the second and three in the third, thanks to a two-run triple from Daniel Urbina and a sacrifice fly by Clay Leonard for a 4-0 lead against Cypress starter Jeff Gogue, who took the loss.

The Mariners scored another run in the sixth inning on Leonard's RBI-single that sealed the league title.

"It has been a lot of hard work," Urbina said. "Twenty-seven years is a long time."

Urbina was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Leonard also had two hits and two RBIs.

The teams will conclude the regular season Thursday at Pacifica. The Mariners won the first two games this season.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com