WINLESS PATRIOTS DROP SECOND STRAIGHT
- Updated: March 10, 2018
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
By Dave Dickens
EastCountySports.com
SAN DIEGO (3-9-2018) – A youthful bunch, for the most part, the Christian Patriots field a majority of their nine starters, with the exception of returning senior BRADLEY JEREMIAH and freshman TRENT NIELSEN, with players trying to find their role in a team chock full of talent.
It has been a heartbreaking start as if it were tryouts week.
The key mishap on Friday afternoon was a bases-loaded bobble which was the end of the contest.
Just a routine fly ball that could not be located, a freak mishap, but it happened to be the difference in a 4-3 loss to the San Diego Cavers.
The Patriots were up 3-1 heading into the bottom of the 5th, then the wheels came off. The Cavers scored 3 in the bottom of the 5th.
Two days prior the Pats dropped a close one to the Madison Warhawks, 8-7, a tournament loss, in which a carbon copy or déjà vu if you will.
Christian was leading that contest 7-3 only to lose 8-7, allowing the Warhawks to score 5 in the bottom of the seventh.
“We are very young for the most part, and the main issues are correctable,” said Patriots head coach Mike Mitchell.
“Our pitchers are not throwing strikes, and our defense in the field is not assisting either as they are dropping what would normally be routine fly-ball catches,” said Mitchell.
Versus the Cavers, the Patriots walked 8, which again déjà vu comes into place as two days separated Christian pitching also walked 8.
“Our freshman and sophomores are just not ready for varsity competition,” said Mitchell.
Senior BRAD JEREMIAH went 1-for-2, with 2 RBI, scored 2 runs, struck out once, and walked 3 times.
“Brad has been fantastic in timely hitting and scoring runs,” said Mitchell.
The other key younger player has been quite impressive.freshman, TRENT NIELSEN.
Nielsen went 2-for-3, with two RBI, struck out once and was thrown out caught stealing.
OF/3B GARRET NIELSEN is the top prospect this year for Christian.
He had also signed with Cal Berkeley and was the first underclassmen All-State, first team All-CIF SDS, and first team all-league.
Garrett Nielsen went 1-for-4, scored 2 runs, and had one base theft.
“Brad Jeremiah did do well on the hill as we have had many different players having to play and fill in spots they would not typically play because of the flu bug plaguing our dugout, taking one guy out at a time.
“Jeremiah is also the ace of our pitching staff as of now, we need to improve and start throwing strikes. The kids will figure it out and get better.”
Christian takes on the Grossmont Foothillers, who came back late last night and tied a great Eastlake team 6-6 as the teams ran out of light.
This will be a tough one for the Pats as will the next one versus Mater Dei.
The Contest today versus Grossmont will be played at Mira Mesa High at 1:30 pm as part of the Aztec-Foothillers Tournament, weather permitting.
