NBL BASEBALL: PUMAS STORM BACK: MARIA CARRILLO RALLIES FROM 4-0 DEFICIT TO HAND CARDINAL NEWMAN ITS FIRST LEAGUE LOSS

One team needed to get hot heading to the postseason. Another sought to stay undefeated in league play.

After falling behind four runs early, Maria Carrillo stormed back and pitcher Alec Rennard shut down Cardinal Newman for a 10-4 home win, the Cardinals' first loss in North Bay League play.

"It was a huge win. We're building momentum," Rennard said.

Both squads are headed for the North Coast Sectionals. The loss reminds Cardinal Newman teams can't have off games against quality opponents in the single-elimination playoffs.

"It makes you realize you need to make the little plays. In the long run I think it can help," said Mark Peterson, who knocked in two runs and took the loss.

A pair of bunt plays figured in Maria Carrillo rallies in the fourth and fifth innings to break open a 4-4 tie. Four walks also fueled those frames for the Pumas.

Sparking both innings for Maria Carrillo was Jake Scheiner, who led off the fourth and fifth with singles. He had four hits in as many at bats on the afternoon.

With the bases loaded in the fourth, Mario Smaldino walked to force in a run and Derek Schmidt singled to score two. Schmidt had a run-scoring triple earlier.

In the fifth Smaldino again worked the count to gain a free pass and force in a run. Then Schmidt's squeeze bunt brought in Maria Carrillo's final tally.

Keeping the Pumas in the contest was Rennard. Coming on in the third inning, Rennard didn't give up a run over four frames, spotting fastballs low and mixing in the occasional tight curves handled by catcher Keith Wallach.

"I was hitting my spots and Keith was doing a good job behind the dish blocking balls," Rennard said.

Cardinal Newman, which swings hot bats, tested Rennard. A pair of base hits to open the fourth and a leadoff single in the fifth gave the Cardinals hope.

But the right-hander pitched well out of the stretch to blank the Cardinals.

A diving grab in right center field by Smaldino ended the top of the fourth and was a catalyst to Maria Carrillo's four-run inning. After yielding a hit to open the fifth, Rennard continued mixing the occasional slider with a good fastball for a pair of strikeouts to stifle Cardinal Newman.

Accustomed to putting down rallies, Rennard faced a deep deficit when he took the mound.

A two-run double by Peterson gave Cardinal Newman the early lead. Nolan Formway then stroked a two-run double in the second inning.

With nine hits, Cardinal Newman had chances only to be frustrated by solid Maria Carrillo defense.

"We hit the ball fine, we just hit the ball right at them," Peterson said. "We didn't respond when they got runs."

Still, the Cardinals are the league favorites. Maria Carrillo could be the best of the rest.

"We're on the crest of a wave and we want to keep it going," Rennard said.