Talented duo leads Cate into semifinals...

By Mike Takeuchi News-Press Correspondent

Senior John Warren, who is 7-1 on the season, will get the start today for Cate. STEVE MALONE / news-press

Thanks to "Dude" and "Sir", the Cate baseball team is riding a wave that has put them one win from the CIF promised land.

Behind the pitching of seniors John Warren aka "Dude", and Michael "Sir" McMahon, the 18-1 Owls, who have already won three CIF playoff games, will play 22-2 St. Michaels Prep in Silverado in a CIF Division VII semifinal today.

While the right-handed Warren is tabbed to start, his mound mate McMahon will start in center field and be ready in relief if called upon. Longtime Cate coach Ben Soto is hoping that the combination will lead Cate back to its first final since 1993, his first season at the school. Soto gives a nickname to everyone who plays for him.

"Sometimes I call them something and forget about it and call them something else until it sticks," Soto said. "But with those two, it stuck right away. Since he surfs and is laid back, John was ëDude' from the start. McMahon called everyone sir, (so) that one stuck.

"They are different in terms of pitching and temperament, but both have pitched tremendously for us this season."

While McMahon has a perfect 8-0 record, the hard-throwing Warren ( 7-1 ) is the ace. After an early loss to Cornerstone Christian Warren developed a deadly curve to mow down batters, which resulted in a no-hitter against Thacher on April 25.

"John is a hard thrower and spots well, especially his curve ball," assistant coach Michael Beamer said. "When that is on, it's pretty unhittable because he can get batters to chase it even if he bounces it to the plate.

"Mike may not throw as hard as John, but his strikeout-to-walk ratio is great because of his superb control. He puts the ball over the plate and trusts his defense, because at this level throwing strikes is 90 percent of it. If you can throw strikes and let them hit it, you are going to be okay."

Their approach to pitching is as different as their styles. While McMahon thinks often about locations and situations, Warren gets into such a zone, he blocks everything but the catcher's mitt out of his mind.

"I kind of get tunnel vision and I don't let anything from the outside affect me so I can keep my focus, stay within myself and not let people get in my head," Warren said. "It's like surfing where you have to tune everything else out and focus purely on the wave."

Regardless of style, the one person who appreciates the acumen of both players is catcher Nate Vice.

"It makes my job so much easier when you have two good pitchers who throw strikes and I don't have to worry about chasing down wild pitches," Vice said. "Those two guys make catching fun."

Despite both of their successes on the mound, only one will continue playing beyond this week. While Warren, who played for Saudi Arabia when they competed at the Little League World Series in 2002 and 2003, will walk on at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo next year, McMahon hopes to make the Cal football team as a kicker in the fall.

But before going their separate ways, there is the matter of making it to the finals, no matter who is on the mound.

After Beamer announced that Warren would get the ball and McMahon should be ready to relieve, the first person to offer support was McMahon.

"We are a better team defensively and pitching wise when John is on the mound; there is no question," McMahon said. "With (Michael Moya) at short, George Lou at second and me in center, we will do our best to give John the win. And if called on, I'll be ready."