Open-bound Patriots short of league goal
- Updated: May 19, 2017
2017 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com
SAN DIEGO – The Christian Patriots lost their opportunity to grab a share of the Western League baseball title Thursday afternoon when they dropped an 11-10 decision to the host Madison Warhawks on a walk-off base hit in the bottom of the tenth inning.
Instead, the Patriots and Warhawks finished tied for third at 6-4, while Scripps Ranch and Cathedral Catholic, which won league games on Thursday, shared the conference banner at 7-4.
It was a thrilling game nonetheless, as Christian rallied from a 7-2 deficit to tie the game in the top of the fifth, then scored two in the top of the seventh to tie the score once again.
Both teams scored runs in the ninth inning, as well.
Ryan Lovato had the game-winning hit for Madison with one out and the bases loaded.
The Patriots entered the contest knowing they could get a championship patch by just winning the finale, but the Warhawks jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings.
Christian’s JAKOB BECK, a junior, had a three-run double in the top of the fifth to close Madison’s lead to 7-5.
Then later in the frame, BRADLEY JEREMIAH doubled on a line drive to center, scoring a pair to tie the game.
The Warhawks took the lead back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth.
But Christian’s offense always leaves them with a comeback chance and JESSIE MATTHEWS started things off in the seventh with a double.
ALONZO RICHARDSON drove Matthews in with a ground single to left.
Moments later, ZACH HOGUISSON tied the game with a line single to right.
The Patriots looked to still be in business with the bases loaded and still no one out, but the Warhawks were able to get out of it with no further damage with a pickoff and two strikeouts.
Christian took the lead in the top of the ninth as CHASE WEHSENER led off with a double and eventually scored on a passed ball.
Christian collected 13 hits, as Jeremiah, Hogueisson, and Wehsener each had two hits.
Christian’s fine record (22-7), along with their tough schedule, has the Patriots ticketed for the Open Division playoffs, along with league foes Cathedral, Scripps Ranch, St. Augustine, and another likely East County entry, Helix.
Reaching the section’s top playoff division ranks as a great accomplishment for the Patriots’ program.
Thur., May 18, 2017 Western League WARHAWKS 11, PATRIOTS 10 (10 inn.) Christian ab r h bi Madison ab r h bi Wehsener 1b-ss 5 2 3 0 Padua 2b 5 2 1 0 Hogueisson cf 5 1 2 1 Shimashita 1b-p 5 2 2 1 Nielsen lf-3b 2 2 1 1 Halsema cf-1b 5 2 2 1 Ledgerwood 1b-2b 5 1 2 1 Abel 3b 3 1 3 3 Contreras rf 4 0 0 0 RLovato lf 5 1 2 1 Pulido ph 1 0 1 0 Bolt dh 4 1 1 0 Keltner rf 0 0 0 0 Williams ss 4 0 1 1 Beck dh-p-c 6 1 1 3 ALovato rf 4 1 2 1 Matthews 2b-ss-p 6 1 2 0 Rainaldi c 5 1 2 2 Richardon ss-p 5 2 1 1 Josephson c 2 0 1 0 Jeremiah lf-1b 2 0 2 0 Mazza lf 1 0 0 0 TOTALS 44 10 16 8 TOTALS 40 11 16 10 Christian (22-7, 6-4) 101 050 201 0 – 10 16 1 Madison (19-10, 6-4) 410 220 001 1 – 11 16 4 GWRBI-RLovato. E-Padua, Williams 2, Becerra, Contreras. DP-Chr 1, Mad 2. LOB-Chr 13, Mad 8. 2B-Padua, Halsema, Wehsener, Beck, Matthews, Jeremiah. 3B-Wensener. SB-Halsema, ALovato, Rainaldi, Hogueisson, Mazza. CS-Keltner. Sac-Shimashita, Williams. SF-ALovato. PITCHING SUMMARY Christian ip h r er bb so JMarkowicz 0.0 5 4 4 0 0 Beck 1.1 4 2 1 0 0 Richardson 1.0 4 3 3 0 0 Matthews L(2-1) 4.2 3 2 2 3 3 Madison Lantz 5.1 11 7 6 5 5 Mayers 0.2 3 2 2 0 0 Shimashita 2.0 3 0 0 1 4 Becerra W(1-0) 2.0 1 1 1 2 1 JMarkowicz faced 5 batters in the 1st inning. HBP-by Richardson (Bolt), by Matthews (Padua, Abel), by Shimashita (Nielsen). WP-JMarkowicz, Lantz.
