Patriots escape from the Island in 10
- Updated: April 29, 2024
2024 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
Compiled by Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer
Along the SILVER STRAND, CORONADO – In what once was a heated rivalry between league opponents, it seemed like old times when Christian and Coronado high schools went deep into extra innings in Monday’s (Apr. 29) non-league encounter.
Finally in the 10th inning, Christian’s D.H. Kim doubled home Jeremiah Morgan with the tie-breaking run, powering the Patriots past the host Islanders, 6-4, at Silver Strand School.
Following Morgan ground single up the middle, Kim slapped a hard grounder past third base which rolled into the corner — which is some 400 feet at the unusally-sized ballpark. The added distance allowed Morgan to easily score.
Christian (11-12 overall) led thgroughout the first two-thirds of the contest, feauting a pair of solo home runs by Ashton McCurty and Benji Molina. Both blasts went to center field.
However, Coronado (REC) rallied twice to get even at 2-2 in the 3rd, then a singled runs in the 5th and 7th forced extra innings.
Xavier Farnum paced the Pats with three of his tea’s nine hits. Kim and Benjo Molina also added two hits each.
The pitching victory went to reliever Peter Zacharzuk, with two frames of 1-hit ball.
Starting pitcher Logan Major lasted 6.1 innings before burned for an unearned run to extand the contest.
The Islanders had a chance in the 10th when the lead-off batter reached on an error. However, Christian then turned q double play, then Zacharzuk coaxed a pop out to cinch the win.
The Patriots have captured seven of the last eight in the series against the Island Boys.
On Wednesday, Christian returns to Western League action with a two-game set against Patrick Henry.
Tri-City Christian 3, Foothills Christian 0
VISTA – At Lake Park, Tri-City Christian pitcher Phoenix Markoski paced the Eagles by firinh a 3-hit shutout to down visiting Foothills Christian, 3-0, in Monday’s (Aug. 29) Pacific League ballgame.
It was the third complete game of the season for Markowski (5-4), who earlier went six full frames against the Knights, but lost a 7-1 decision on Mar. 19.
Thus, it was a remarkable turnaround for Markoski from six weeks earlier.
The right-hander struck out 16 Knights batters to become the first CIF-San Diego Section pitcher to top the 100-plateau with 109. He fell one short of his season best of 17 recorded against Guajome Park.
Meanwhile, Foothills Christian sophomore Jack Morgan fired four shutout innings before getting chased in the fifth inning, when the Eagles registered all three of their runs. Only one run was earned, as a critical Knights error decided the game’s outcome.
Morgan allowed just three hits, then Andrew Burke mopped up with 1.2 inningsw of no-hit ball in relief.
For Tri-City(6-12 overall), the key hits was a 2-run single by Mikhail Dziuban.
Foothills Christian (15-10) saw Morgan collect two of its three hits. The other went to freshman J.J. Granillo.
