Sanfilippo figured that the Wildcats needed momentum on their side to outlast Sacred Heart Cathedral and advance to the CCS semifinals. And that's just what they got.

Momentum shifted a couple of times, but in the end it was on Los Gatos' side in a 6-4 victory over the Fightin' Irish. The win pushed the Wildcats into the CCS semifinal round against Capuchino on May 26, 7 p.m., at San Jose Municipal Stadium.

"They've beaten two good teams," said Sanfilippo of the Mustangs, who opened the playoffs with a 4-2 win over Harbor, then beat Soquel 5-4. "We scouted them, and they can play. But then everyone is good who's still playing."

"Our goal," he added, "is to play two more games. We'd like to finish what we started."

Los Gatos started the year by winning the championship in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League. To finish the season the way Sanfilippo would like it, the Cats would have to beat Capuchino (19-6) in the semifinals, then beat the Monterey (21-9)-Santa Cruz (27-7) winner on Saturday at Muni.

The Cats pushed their record to 24-5 for the year with the win over Sacred Heart, following a 10-0 victory over Del Mar to open the playoffs.

"It was nice to have 'mo' finish off on our side in the end of the game," said Sanfilippo after the come-from-behind win over the Irish on Saturday.

Los Gatos took an early 2-0 lead, but Sacred Heart tied it 2-2 in the fifth, then took the lead with a two-run homer in the sixth. Then the Cats came fighting back.

Mike Brienzo walked to open the bottom of the sixth and an out later Justin Schafer walked. Derek Thomas looped a single to left to drive in a run and Carlos Alonso was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ryan Kiel singled to the infield to plate the tying run.

Ray Salazar, pinch-running for Thomas, scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, then Alonso scored on an insurance run on a balk.

"It was a real testament to our kids," said Sanfilippo. "We needed to score three, and we scored four."

That was all Thomas needed.

"Derek went out there with fire in his eyes and struck out the side," said Sanfilippo. "It was the most exciting win we've had all year."

Gatos had jumped in front with a run in the second when Jeremy Bays, moved to second on sacrifice by Schafer and scored on a sac fly by Kiel.

The Cats went up 2-0 in the third. Marty Mullins singled, moved to second on an error, took third on Mike Gault's sac bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brienzo.

Through the first few innings, starting pitcher Kyle Blair was mowing down the Irish.

"He was lights out for the first four innings," said Sanfilippo of his sophomore starter who's been sidelined for nearly three weeks with a hamstring injury. "He was perfect through three."

But he ran into a jam in the fifth and Sacred Heart scored two to tie it. Thomas came on in relief with the bases loaded and struck out the first two hitters he faced. Then, on a wild pitch, Mullins took the ball off the backstop and tossed to Thomas covering the plate to cut down a Sacred Heart runner trying to score.

"That was a big play," said Sanfilippo. " 'Mo' jumped back on our side."

It wouldn't last for long. Sacred Heart took the lead with a two-run homer in the sixth. That just set the stage for the Gatos comeback.

Los Gatos opened the playoffs with the lopsided five-inning win over Del Mar. Kiel went the distance for the win, striking out five and allowing just two hits and two walks.

The Cats scored a run in the first, then broke the game open with seven in the second. The big blast in the second inning was a three-run double by Brienzo. He also had a single in the game.

Bays singled twice and ripped a two-run home run, finishing the day with four runs-batted-in. Kiel tripled home a run.