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Coming into the critical playoff-impacting match between Poly and Jordan at Gwynn Field on Wednesday, both teams knew a lot was at stake: Poly is in a three-way logjam with Lakewood and Wilson for second place, with all three teams at 4-3, while Jordan sits a half-game out of the playoffs at 3-3. <\/span>With wins against Millikan, Wilson, and Lakewood always hard to come by, the ‘Rabbits and Panthers both knew they needed a “w”—both teams’ best pitchers threw outstanding complete games, but errors in the Jordan defense and some clutch hitting from Poly’s Kevin Nanbara were enough for Poly to win, 4-0. <\/span><\/p>\n \n Of the playoff race, Poly coach Toby Hess said, “Not to get too far ahead here, but this puts us in a really good position.”<\/p>\n Poly’s Mario Gordon had the slightly better day on the mound, throwing a three-hit shutout with seven strikeouts, as his mixed speeds kept the Panthers off balance all game. <\/span>But it’s hard not to feel bad for Jordan’s Marcos Lara, who also went the distance and allowed four hits, striking out six. <\/span>The Panthers’ five errors, however, didn’t match their pitcher’s fire, as the visibly frustrated Lara takes the loss.<\/p>\n It started in the bottom of the first—after Lara struck out the first Poly batter, Henry Severson reached first off a Jordan error. <\/span>Then Gordon battled Lara for a dozen-plus pitches and got the walk—Nikko Santos moved the runners over to second and third on a sacrifice, putting two runners on with two outs. <\/span>Lara dug deep and struck out Tyler Maxwell.<\/p>\n He got himself out of a few more holes, while Gordon mowed through the Panthers lineup efficiently, but in the bottom of the fourth Poly scored the deciding run. <\/span>Jeff Turley grounded out to start the inning, then Terrell Kimbrough knocked a single. <\/span>Daniel Cook popped out, and with just a runner on first and two outs, it seemed the inning was about over. <\/span>When Kevin Nanbara hit a fly towards center, it appeared that it was, but the fielder misplayed it, scoring Kimbrough—Nanbara was tagged out at home as he tried to score.<\/p>\n Nanbara (2-4 3 RBI) scored two more in the bottom of the sixth with a nice single, and Kimbrough’s error single brought in Tommy Walker, who reached second on an error double, to reach the final. <\/span>Gordon continued to work quickly and kept Poly from much real trouble—the Panthers had one good chance to score in the top of the sixth, with a runner on second and Lara, their best batter as well, at the plate. <\/span>But Gordon got the pick at second to end the inning, and the Panthers’ chances.<\/p>\n “We can’t get picked off in that situation,” said Jordan coach Marc Prager after the game. <\/span>“And we gotta score a run to win—but, we’re still in the playoff race mathematically.” <\/span>(He’s right, and if they beat Wilson on the Panthers’ home field this Friday, they’ll actually be a half-game up on the Bruins in the race for fourth.) <\/p>\n “We put the ball in play, which is what we wanted to do,” said Hess. <\/span>“And Nanbara just came through—that’s a senior leading the team.” <\/span>Poly’s next game will be next week, on Wednesday against Wilson at Blair in the nightcap.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n