Live Oak's division title hopes were down to their last out, rather their last routine grounder to shortstop.
An error and two runs later, the Acorns were still tied for first place.
Needing a small miracle to stave off upset-minded Piedmont Hills, Live Oak got one with Gabriel Mancias' two-out chopper to Edward Rivero in the seventh inning Wednesday. The ball slipped by Rivero, giving way to two walks, a hit batsman and, eventually, Tim O'Rourke's game-winning RBI-single off starter Dylan Auker.
Live Oak prevailed once again for its seventh one-run victory of the season - a 3-2 win at Sarich Field.
"You've got to find ways to win this late in the season," Live Oak coach Mark Cummins said. "Good teams do that, they compete until the end."
O'Rourke came up after Matthew Cummins scored Mancias with a bases-loaded walk to tie it at 2-all. O'Rourke, who also pitched the full seven innings, slapped a 1-and-1 offering into left field, scoring Stephen Smith and stealing a complete-game victory from Auker.
"He's clutch like that," Mancias said of O'Rourke. "He's who you want batting for you if you're in that situation. We needed a hit, and he gave us one."
More importantly, O'Rourke survived Live Oak's lead in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mount Hamilton Division heading into the final game of the regular season. The Acorns host Santa Teresa on Friday and, with a win, can at least tie with Leigh for their 14th league championship in program history.
Leigh still holds the tie-breaker in the division standings, though, having swept the season series with Live Oak (21-7 overall, 16-4 BVAL).
Auker had the Acorns stymied for most of the afternoon Wednesday, striking out three batters and giving up four hits. Live Oak was rewarded for its patience, drawing eight free passes to first base.
"He isn't that hard to hit, but we were swinging at every strike," Mancias said. "We needed to let him pitch."
Live Oak broke through for its first run in the fifth inning when Mike Devine singled home Steven Rodriguez, knotting the game at 1-1. Piedmont Hills (7-19-1, 5-15 BVAL) responded in the sixth, getting a bases-loaded walk from Rivero.
The visiting Pirates totaled eight hits but stranded a dozen base runners. Three of those came in the fifth after O'Rourke gave up a double and intentionally walked Jarrett Katai to load the bases with one out.
O'Rourke was lights-out from there, fanning Christian Robles with three pitches and Jovonni Ortega with six to end the threat - part of nine strikeouts on the day for O'Rourke. Live Oak's senior righty picked up his eighth victory and second complete game of the year while dropping his ERA to 2.38.
"He's a great competitor," Mark Cummins said. "Tim made some big outs for us and stayed out of trouble."
O'Rourke gave up his first run when Auker doubled home Katai with two outs in the second inning. O'Rourke struck out Dillon Albanese for the third out, then induced a 6-4-3 double play turned by Cummins and Smith to help end the third.
Live Oak got two walks from Smith and another from Tony Austin, who went 1 for 2 with a single. Cummins and Mancias both stole bases and Adam Perez returned to the lineup after breaking a bone in his wrist March 25. He went 0-for-3 batting as the designated hitter.
The Acorns make their 17th straight CIF-Central Coast Section playoffs next week after Friday's regular-season finale with Santa Teresa at 3:30 p.m.
Live Oak likely will host its first-round game Thursday, Mark Cummins said.
Scott Adams Scott Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
