GILROY—Everett Alvarez had the tying and winning runs standing on the corners in the top of the seventh inning. With three runs already across and only one out recorded, the fate of the season was in the hands of Christopher’s Tyler Fhurong—literally.
The junior came through to pick up back-to-back strikeouts to keep the Cougars’ season alive as they beat the Eagles 6-5 in the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs Wednesday at home. The win is the Cougars’ first in the postseason in school history.
“I just had to throw strikes and let my defense work,” Fhurong said. “I know how to trust my defense. I just had to get them a couple ground balls. They couldn’t hit me, so I just them (Christopher’s defense) do their thing.”
Christopher got to Alvarez’s young sophomore pitcher, Ricky Torres, early and often. The Cougars loaded the bases three times in the game, including in the second inning when the dangerous Makaio Duyao was standing at the plate. The junior sent a rocket into deep left centerfield for a bases-clearing double to get the Cougars on the board 3-0.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Duyao said. “He challenged with the fastball, got it by me and then left a hanging curve(ball), so I smashed that for a double.”
Duyao led the team with a slew of stats in the game—three RBIs, two hits, a run, a walk, a double and a stolen base.
Christopher improved its lead to 4-0 with a single from Mike Sanchez to score Josh Wheat in the bottom of the fourth. Alvarez answered with two runs of its own in the top of the fifth, but the Cougars quickly regained their two-run lead. With Duyao standing on second, Fhurong switched places with him with a double which put Christopher ahead 5-2. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases once again and a single from Richard Suarez sent Fhurong home to give the Cougars a 6-2 lead at that point.
Though Christopher would’ve liked to have held on to its larger lead, coach Ryan Dequin said he’s proud of his team for coming together and keeping their composure to keep their season alive.
“We have a great group of kids and they deserve it—they deserve it more than anything,” Dequin said. “They just battled as a group. …We don’t have that standout player or pitcher that’s going to throw 92 every game. We don’t have that shortstop that’s going to make every play or hit .450 in league. But we have guys that consistently put the bat on the ball and do their job when they’re needed.”
Christopher will play round two of the CCS Playoffs against Sequoia at 4 p.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton.
