Purpura's complete-game gem lifts Pirates past Delta, 5-0, in Final Four opener

FRESNO -- At the beginning of the 2015, Dominic Purpura wanted to move from last year's relief role and be used as a starter. After starting this year as a multiple-inning reliever/closer, the sophomore lefty got his wish and it's paying off for the Orange Coast College baseball team at just the right time.

Purpura pitched a complete-game shutout, lifting the Pirates to 5-0 win over San Joaquin Delta in the opening round of the 2015 California Community College Athletic Association Baseball State Championships, played at Fresno City College's John Euless Ballpark. Purpura scattered five hits over nine innings, walking one and striking out two in a 107-pitch masterpiece.

The win puts the Pirates into the championship semifinals, where they will play fellow SoCal representative, the Palomar College Comets, who topped host Fresno City, 7-3. With the loss, the Mustangs must sweep a pair of doubleheaders over the next two days, beginning with Fresno City on Sunday at 10 a.m.

It was a classic pitcher's battle as Purpura (5-1) went up against the state's win leader, Delta lefty Cameron Leeper (14-2). Leeper threw well, but took his second loss of the season, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits with five walks and 10 strikeouts. It was Leeper's second straight loss after starting the year 14-0.

The game was in a scoreless tie until the Pirates came to bat in the top of the seventh. Jack Kruger (2-for-2) led off with a walk and went to second after Stephen Corona was hit by a pitch. 

A successful sacrifice bunt by James McLellan moved the runners over to second and third and Stefan Panayiotou delivered a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Kruger to make it 1-0. Pinch-runner Jeff Belger advanced to third on a wild pitch and Nick Grimes followed with a walk, putting runners on the corners with two out.

Grimes attempted to advance to second on a low pitched ball, but found himself in a rundown between first and second. Belger, who took off for the plate during the rundown, scored when he beat a low throw to the plate, putting Coast ahead, 2-0.

Purpura carried that momentum out to the mound and retired the top-seeded Mustangs (39-6) in order, keeping Coast in the driver's seat.

That seat got more comfy in the top of the eighth when speedster Robert Longtree showed off some power and lined a triple to center to start things off. Jeff Nellis walked and a sacrifice bunt by Chaneng Varela put runners on second and third. 

Two batters later, with one out, Kruger nubbed a swinging bunt-single up the third-base line that scored Longtree to make it 3-0. 

Leeper, who pitches with a lot of emotion, saw that work against him as he uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Nellis to score to make it 4-0.

Again, Purpura calmly went out and retired the side in the eighth, putting the Pirates three outs away from the victory.

McLellan lined a one-out double to left, advanced to third on another Leeper wild pitch and scored on a fielding error off the bat of Grimes to cap off the scoring.

Purpura gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, but slammed the door on the next three batters to preserve the shutout win, just the third such win of the season for the Pirates (28-17). The win is the fourth straight over the Mustangs in the State Final Four and the fifth win in six tries between the two teams, dating back to 2009. Coast defeated Delta to win the 2009 state title and repeated the feat again in 2014.

Delta, champions of the Big 8 Conference, managed just one runner to third base and just two innings with more than one runner on base.