For the 2nd consecutive year, the Oakland Tech baseball rebounded from an opening game loss to defeat the San Francisco Section champion and win the TransBay Baseball Series.   The Bulldogs defeated Washington, 8-3, at San Francisco State University on Tuesday to win consecutive TransBay titles for the first time ever.

Tech battled back from an early 2-0 deficit to tie the game in the 5th.  After the Eagles regained the lead with a run in the bottom of 5th, the Bulldog bats exploded for 6 runs in the top of the 6th.  Back-to-back-to-back doubles by Evan Williams, Jake Southworth, and Alejandro Wlassowksy helped the OAL champs take the 8-3 lead that would prove to be the margin of victory.  Junior hurler Matt Cornell pitched a complete game for Tech to record the series-clinching win.

You can read Jimmy Durkin’s account of the game at insideBayArea.com by clicking here.

The 2011 OAL & TransBay Champion Oakland Tech Baseball Team

Congratulations, Baseball Bulldogs!

2011 TransBay Champions

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The Oakland Tech Bulldogs defeated Washington High of San Francisco on Friday, 5-1, to even the TransBay Series at one game apiece.  The deciding game of the series will take place on Tuesday, May 24th, 4pm at San Francisco St. University.

Click here to read insideBayArea.com’s story about the game.

The Eagles scored the game-winning run on a bases-loaded wild pitch with one out in the bottom of the eighth to take the opener of the TransBay Series at San Francisco State.

“We played a solid game,” Bulldogs coach Eric Clayton said. “We’re not taking this hard. We understand what we did wrong to help them squeak this out. It won’t happen again.”

Washington (20-6-1) took a 3-1 lead when it rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth off Oakland Tech starter Matt Cornell, who brought a two-hit shutout into the inning.

The Bulldogs (15-7-1) had nobody on and two outs in the top of the seventh when they fought back. Kyle Kelly, Francis Griffin and James Harris had consecutive singles, with Kelly scoring on Harris’ hit. Cornell was intentionally walked and Jake Southworth reached on an error to plate Griffin with the tying run.

Tech stranded the bases loaded and also left a runner on third in the eighth — one of 10 runners left aboard by the Bulldogs.

Washington got its first two runners on in the eighth off Cornell via a hit by pitch and walk. Tech reliever Chris Castillo entered and recorded a strikeout. A wild pitch moved both runners up and an intentional walk loaded the bases. Castillo’s first pitch to Avery Velasco went to the backstop as Paul Duchene scored the winning run.

The best of three series resumes Friday at 4 p.m. at Oakland’s Rickey Henderson Field.

– Jimmy Durkin, insideBayArea.com

Congratulations to Varsity Baseball Coach Eric Clayton, his coaches and players for their second consecutive OAL Championship. The Bulldogs only loss in league play came against Skyline following two victories over the Titans.

Oakland Tech will now play in the Transbay Tournament against the Washington Eagles beginning Wednesday, May 18, at San Francisco State. The teams will play a three-game series, with the second game at Rickey Henderson Field on Friday, May 20.  The third game, if necessary, will take place at a date and location to be determined.

And finally, a shout-out to Senior James Harris who was selected one of the Bay Area News Group East Bay Athletes of the Year. James, who was an All-OAL selection in basketball, is being closely followed for his exploits on the baseball field, as well, with 15 to 20 scouts from major league teams following his season.

at Pinole Valley HS

Game 1 of the Dave Stewart Classic at the Oakland Coliseum.

at Curt Flood Field

at Rickey Henderson Field

at Laney College.

at Rickey Henderson Field

at Curt Flood Field

Rescheduled from 4/1 due to weather.