DANVILLE — The energy inside Rick Steen Ballpark could be felt from across San Ramon Valley’s campus.
Local residents from nearby apartments tuned in from their balcony to watch Wednesday’s highly anticipated matchup between two East Bay Athletic league rivals. While De La Salle and SRV battled it out on the diamond, fans of both teams kept the stands rocking with loud cheers and a little bit of friendly trash talk.
But in the end it was De La Salle that came out on top, dominating on both sides of the ball to cruise to an 11-0 victory on the road.
De La Salle’s Joe McGee (8) hits a three-run home run against San Ramon Valley at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle senior Joe McGee and sophomore Tyler Spangler each had a home run. Graham Schlicht pitched a two-hitter in five innings and struck out six.
“This game was really important to us,” Spangler said. “ With SRV being our rivals, we just wanted to play a great game.”
De La Salle got on the board first when Sean Stafford brought home Jamie Mullin on an RBI single to put the Spartans up 1-0 in the second inning.
The Concord school put up two runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead after five, but De La Salle put the game away for good in the sixth.
After Mullin got on base with a lead-off double, senior Jack Harper got him across home plate on a line-drive single to right field. Three at-bats later, McGee hit the second pitch thrown to him and crushed a three-run homer that sailed yards over the right field wall to put the Spartans up 8-0.
De La Salle’s Jamie Mullin (20) is greeted by teammates after scoring during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Tyler Spangler (22) celebrates his solo home run with teammates during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Owen Morgan (30) throws against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Tyler Spangler (22) and Alec Blair (4) head to the dugout after scoring during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s head coach Justin Santich-Hughes talks with pitcher Owen Morgan (29) and catcher Joseph Coupland (12) during their game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Graham Schlicht (32) throws against San Ramon Valley at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Students watch from the outfield fence during San Ramon Valley’s game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Jack Harper (7) is congratulated by teammates after scoring during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley shortstop Luke Baker (2) is unable to tag out De La Salle’s Ethan Sullivan (42) as he’s safe on a steal during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Lucas Glazier (10) hits a fly ball deep for an out during their game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Colin Linteo (7) hits a single against De La Salle during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Lucas Glazier (3) takes the throw as De La Salle’s Alec Blair (4) heads safely back to third base during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Alec Blair (4) rounds the bases during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Max Ellis (4) makes a catch against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Charles Reiland (29) throws against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Charles Reiland (29) throws against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Lucas Glazier (3) takes the throw as De La Salle’s Lorenzo Solares (3) slides safely back to third base during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Jamie Mullin (20 leans back from a tight pitch during their game against San Ramon Valley at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Colin Linteo (7) is safe on a steal as De La Salle’s Hank Tripaldi (1) takes the throw during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Colin Linteo (7) steps back from an inside pitch during their game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Joe McGee (8) and Gabe Ramirez (36) celebrate his three-run home run against San Ramon Valley at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Joe McGee (8) is congratulated by head coach David Jeans after hitting a three-run home run against San Ramon Valley at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s head coach Justin Santich-Hughes replaces pitcher Owen Morgan (30) with Devon Purandare (23) during their game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Sean Stafford (5) attempts a bunt during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Jack Harper (7) is out trying to stretch a double as San Ramon Valley shortstop Luke Baker (2) takes the throw during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Landon Cook (19) slides under the tag of San Ramon Valley shortstop Luke Baker (2) during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Jamie Mullin (20) celebrates his double during their game at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Drake Poitras (16) chases down a double by De La Salle’s Jamie Mullin (20) at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Jake Hensley (15) ducks to avoid a pitch during their game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Students watch from the outfield fence during San Ramon Valley’s game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Brady Shay (19) strikes out looking during their game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s head coach Justin Santich-Hughes watches from the dugout during their game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Ramon Valley’s Colin Linteo (7) makes a catch during their game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
“I kind of just sat there and saw the first pitch’s location and knew I just needed to make contact,” McGee said about the home run. “I just had to put a nice easy swing on it.”
De La Salle continued to rack up runs in the seventh, putting up a three-spot while subbing in most of its young players who were sitting on the bench.
Lorenzo Solares knocked in Mullin on an RBI double that rolled along the left field foul line. Later in the seventh, Max Ghiglieri scored sophomore Brandon Vargas to give De La Salle its biggest lead of the afternoon at 11-0.
Defensively, De La Salle kept the usually high-scoring Wolves in check. Schlicht, Trent Cacciola and Tommy Curran combined to give up just three hits. Spartan fielders did not commit an error and had six assists.
“The defense was amazing,” Schlicht said. “My guys just had my back the whole time. I just had confidence in them that they could always just back me up. They really got me through this game.”
Wednesday’s win marks the Spartans’ fourth in a row where they scored in double figures. Over the last five games De La Salle has scored 89 runs and has given up eight.
“You have to give credit to the kids,” said De La Salle coach David Jeans. “They work really hard on their hitting. They try not to get too big. It’s just been a process and the kids have really just bought into it.”
While the Wolves went home with a loss, Wednesday’s game helped give SRV (12-6,7-2) more clarity on what needs to happen on Friday to come out with a better outcome.
“Today just showed us that we have to play our brand of baseball,” said SRV junior Marco Jones. “We can’t let the other team dictate what we do, but we’ll see them again on Friday.”
San Ramon Valley’s Marco Jones (10) grounds out on a fielder’s choice during their game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
