Saturday, May. 17, 2008

Golden Valley will throw Cesar again on Monday but ... who's next?

Four pitchers to choose from

By JAMES BURNS
jburns@mercedsun-star.com

STOCKTON -- Scott Solis was prepared to let Trevor Cesar go the distance.

After all, big games like Wednesday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoff opener have belonged to the Golden Valley ace.

But when Cesar opened the game with eight straight balls and showed no signs of getting better, Solis was forced to do the unthinkable.

He benched Cesar -- taking his arm, bat and glove out of the lineup all at once.

"Sometimes you just don't have it," Solis said.

The gamble paid off.

Ralf Vasquez stepped in and pitched masterfully for five innings, lifting Golden Valley (18-9) past Tracy and into the second round.

The tricky submarine-style pitcher gave up one run and capped the victory with an impressive display of strikes.

"That's my little guy," Cesar said. "He's fun to watch."

As for Cesar...

Well, the Duke-bound ace got to rest his arm, bat and fatigued body for today's showdown with Beyer (21-7).

The Modesto Metro Conference champs will likely turn to ace Kyle Barrett, who delivered a workman-like effort in Wednesday's opening-round victory over West.

First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at the University of the Pacific.

"That's the shortest he's gone in three seasons. I'm positive of it," Solis said of Cesar's rocky start. "The positive is that we get to use him on Monday."

But then what?

Regardless of Monday's outcome, GV won't have much downtime in between games.

A win would put GV into the winner's bracket final on Wednesday. A loss and the losers' bracket game comes Tuesday.

So the question becomes: If Cesar isn't available to start -- pitchers are allowed to only throw 10 innings in a calendar week -- then who is?

Excluding Vasquez, who is entrenched as the club's closer, GV has four potential candidates jockeying for the No. 2 slot in the rotation -- none of whom evoke much confidence from their skipper.

"Right now, our second-best pitcher is Ralfie," Solis admitted. "Now we just have to figure out a way to get to him."

Kyle Potter and Chris Bianchi have traded time behind Cesar in the rotation.

Potter was 3-1 in the regular season, Bianchi is 2-2 -- but both have been roughed up in recent appearances.

Bianchi hasn't pitched since going just 1/3 of an inning in a 10-6 loss to Pleasanton Foothill on April 30.

Potter has been stuck with an ERA near 6.00 in his last four appearances.

Senior Sergio Gutierrez and sophomore Joey Cuevas also could see some time on the hill.

Gutierrez hasn't pitched in a game in more than a month, but has looked sharp recently.

"We would have used him (against Merced)," Solis started, "but Ralfie was pitching so good."

Cuevas could be a wild card.

"He might be the best we got, because he's thrown more than anybody. He was throwing every other game for the JV team," Solis said.

"St. Mary's threw their sophomore at us last season in the (Division I South) championship. And he did OK.

"Sometimes that's all you have left."

Golden Valley (18-9) vs. Beyer (21-7)

St. Mary's (18-10) vs. Buhach Colony (24-4)

WHEN: Monday, 4 p.m. for GV game, 7 p.m. for BC game.

WHERE: Klein Family Field on the campus of the University of the Pacific. Located across the parking lot from the football stadium.

HEATING UP: Buhach Colony has scored 22 runs in its last two games. If the BC offense continues to hit, the other three teams in the South may not have a chance. Markus Melgosa led Buhach's 12-hit attack with four hits in the 11-2 first-round win over Lodi.