Tired Dorados hope to learn from shutout loss

Francis isn't built that way. Plus, he didn't have to.

The Dorados (12-4), a season removed from a Division II state championship, beat themselves up in the dugout at Cherry Field after the drubbing in the Chris Moon Memorial Classic championship game Friday. Panning across the bench were long, drained faces that were tired from playing 11 games against top squads from California, Nevada and Phoenix in the last 15 days.

CDO averaged 7.5 runs coming into the game thanks to one of the state's most powerful lineups, but mustered just two weakly-hit singles up the middle as the Gaels' junior left-handed pitcher Matt Mitchell tossed a complete-game shutout with 12 strikeouts.

“Its been a long two weeks for us, its been tough,” sophomore CDO pitcher Michael Santorelli said. “We made a few errors, we tried to fight back, we faced a good pitcher. We're tired, but its all right, no excuses. We're out here for a state championship and we're working for it all year. Eleven games in 15 days, it was definitely tough, but we're ready for more.”

Santorelli, who was doomed by a lack of run support and three errors behind him, lasted four innings as he surrendered three earned runs on 10 hits and one hit batter. The Gaels notched 12 hits, including three run-producing extra-base hits.

Francis knew heading into the season this stretch of 11 games would define CDO's regular season as the coaching staff would know by then if they could compete for another state title.

“We've been playing for two weeks in competitive games, and I was a little bit worried about us coming out flat and tired,” Francis said. “Unfortunately, it happened to us. We can compete. I know they didn't show it today, it was really ugly and I take full responsibility for that, but they are very competitive and we'll be all right.”

The Dorados could chalk up the poor outing to being tired and facing a national-powerhouse in the Bishop Gorman, but, Francis understands there's no such thing as a mulligan in baseball. Especially in the postseason. While the Dorados may not be shut out the rest of the year and the lineup might not have another two-hit performance, they'll surely encounter more adversity come playoff time.

The challenge for Francis now is figuring out which buttons need pushing to see his team fight through mental blocks.

“That's something we're going to have to address, I don't know if there is a simple formula for it,” Francis said. “I think you just got to talk and discuss it, see what you did today and learn from today. Its not a sweet taste.”