RedHawks down Lions in Summit game

LEMON GROVE —- Mountain Empire center fielder Dakota Daniels posted his best outing at the plate this season, starting a 5-run, tie-breaking rally in the fifth inning with a double to help down host Liberty Charter, 12-6, in the first-ever Summit League meeting between the schools.

Daniels, in his first high school baseball game, batted 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI, while Jacobe Noland pumped the RedHawks’ first home run of the season to subdue the Lions.

The triumph moved Mountain Empire (5-4 overall, 1-1 Summit) to within a half-game of first place Chula Vista-High Tech High.

Noland was also the starting pitcher but came out after five outs while pitching a no-hitter. Fortunately, Nakai Lindholm came out of the bullpen to fire 5 1/3 frames to gain the victory in relief. Lindholm struck out a dozen Lions batters.

With the bat, Lindholm got things started with a 2-run triple in the first. When he took over on the mound in the second, Noland overcame whatever forced him from the hill by rocketing a shot with the wind over the barrier in center field for a 4-0 cushion.

Noland went 3-for-5, good for four RBI.

Despite the setback, Liberty Charter (1-2, 0-1 Summit) looked far superior to the club which fell to Mountain Empire in a season-opening, non-league ballgame more than two weeks ago.

Jaxon Adrain paced the Lions by driving in a pair of tuns, while Michael Schallock and Tommy “Bob” Scanlon registered two hits each from the top of the LCHS batting card.

The Lions’ biggest hit was a triple by junior Michael Schllock, which started a 2-run rally in the fourth to move within 4-2.

However, the RedHawks answered with five runs in the fifth, including an RBI single by Alejandro Adkins, who was also playing in his first varsity baseball game, and Dakota Hatmaker, then a 2-run double from Noland. The first two players in the batting order, Hatmaker and Noland finished with three hits each. Hatmaker stole four bases.

For Liberty Charter, Josh Hyler batted 3-for-5 and stole two bases.

Next for the Redhawks is Saturday against Tri-City Christian at 2 p.m. at Calvin Christian High School.