The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.

SAN MATEO — For the first time since 2003, the Bulldogs are headed to the state finals.

College of San Mateo ran the board in the weekend’s Super Regional tournament, winning three straight to qualify for the California final four — aka, the California Community College Athletic Association State Tournament, as per tradition hosted by Fresno City College — culminating yesterday in a 12-5 win over Sacramento City.

Freshman shortstop Ryan Allgrove started the double play that ended the ballgame, nabbing a soft liner off the bat of Sac City pinch hitter Thomas Dixon with runners leaning from both first and second base, then tossing to second to punch CSM’s ticket to Fresno and unleash the dog pile.

“It’s just something we’ve been working hard for all year,” Allgrove said. “And to finally have it happen, it’s a dream come true…. Fresno is pretty much our Omaha. That’s how we see it.”

Scoring early and often, the Bulldogs rode the left arm of starting pitcher Josh Trejo. The sophomore — who is three deep in the CSM starting rotation — proved to be an ace up the sleeve of manager Doug Williams. Trejo worked 7 2/3 innings of five-hit ball to up his overall record to 3-0.

“[Trejo] stepped up and did more than anybody could ask. I mean, he was outstanding,” Williams said. “The fastball was just dominant. He was able to throw it both sides of the plate. And, he went through that lineup, which is a good lineup, with a power fastball. That’s just testament to who he is, and what kind of stuff he has as a pitcher.”

CSM catcher Andrew Suvunnachuen — hitting out of the No. 9 hole — was 3 for 4 with two solo home runs and three RBIs. Trevor Pasiecznik was 3 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. O’Koyea Dickson was 1 for 2 with a solo jack and scored three runs. Each Suvunnachuen and Dickson clubbed a team-best three home runs in Super Regional play. As a team, the Bulldogs are hitting .317 on the postseason.

“That’s our squad. We get up for big games,” Pasiecznik said. “Everybody comes up in the clutch. We pick each other up. That’s our team. We hit really well, but if a couple guys aren’t hitting (like) our big boys, the end on the lineup will pick us up…. Everybody rakes on this team.”

Scoring recap

Sac City drew first blood in the second, plating catcher Lucas Kephart on a two-out infield single. But, the Bulldogs answered right back four times in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-1 lead, and would not look back, scoring in each inning thereafter with the exception of the eighth.

Cleanup hitter Joey Wallace ignited the second-inning rally with the loudest contact of the day, a thundering double off the centerfield wall to lead off the second. Five straight CSM batters reached base to start the inning, including an RBI single by Pasiecznik, and a two-run double by Allgrove. Both RBI knocks, in addition to a sacrifice fly off the bat of Thomas Wood, came on first-pitch fastballs.

In the third, CSM upped its lead to 5-1 when Pasiecznik lined a two-out RBI single to score Nick White. In the fourth, Suvunnachuen muscled a towering homer to center. Wood followed with a double and White drove him home with a two-out knock, increasing the lead to 7-1. In the fifth, five straight Bulldogs again reached to start the inning, with RBI singles from Allgrove and Suvunnachuen. Pat Burford then scored on a double play to make it 10-1. Dickson and Suvunnachuen capped the day’s scoring with solo homers in the sixth and seventh, respectively.

In the top of the seventh, Sac City pushed a run across on an RBI single by Mike Marjama to score Jordan Vina. In the ninth, the Panthers rallied for three runs on an RBI fielder’s choice by Marjama, and a two-run single by Eli Hynes.

Bruised but not beaten

As CSM’s leadoff hitter for a majority of the season, Allgrove was injured in Game 2 of last weekend’s Regional Playoff against Sierra College. Sliding into home, Allgrove had the middle fingernail on his left hand ripped off when he was accidentally stepped on by a former summer ball teammate, Sierra catcher Mike Quesada. As a result, Allgrove was dropped to the lower third of the order this weekend for the first time this year.

Heading to Fresno will be a homecoming of sorts for Allgrove, who played as a freshman last year at Fresno State.

Suvunnachuen sustained a minor injury in the squat during the top of the seventh when he was struck in the knee with a foul ball. Although he was later pulled from the game, he lobbied to finish the inning, and as a result hit his second homer of the game in the bottom of the frame.

“It was a little ginger. I kind of trotted a little slower,” Suvunnachuen said.

Post-season perennials

Although CSM has not been to the state finals since 2003, this is its ninth consecutive playoff appearance. The Bulldogs also advanced to the Super Regionals last year, and in 2005 when they were eliminated in a doubleheader sweep on the final day by eventual state champion Santa Rosa.

Also ticketed for Fresno this season are: From SoCal, No. 2-ranked El Camino and No. 9 Rio Honda. Also from NorCal along with No. 2 CSM, No. 3 Ohlone advances to the final four.

“We’re not just happy to be there,” Williams said. “I mean, this team has got a legitimate chance. And we’re going to go down there and give it our best shot, and hopefully come home with a state title.”