First published in the March 3 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
The La Cañada High School varsity baseball team remained undefeated after edging visiting La Salle College Preparatory of Pasadena, 4-3, in a nonleague game on Tuesday. A four-run second inning was all the Spartans needed, despite the Lancers adding their third and final run in the seventh inning.
Freshman pitcher Carson Kelly earned the win after tossing five innings of two-run ball with two strikeouts, while junior Mateo Gallegos, who allowed one hit and one unearned run over the final two innings, notched a save.
Senior first baseman Timmy Park finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and senior shortstop Adam Geller collected one hit, one RBI and one run scored. Junior catcher Chris Huh registered two hits and one run scored, while junior outfielder Ethan Geller finished 1-for-2 with a run scored. Freshman third baseman Josh Proctor and junior second baseman Alex Higa tallied two and one hits, respectively.
La Cañada earned a dominant 5-1 victory over visiting Los Angeles Cathedral in an earlier encounter as senior Brandon Cho pitched five innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out five batters. Higa finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a game-high two RBIs and one stolen base, while Adam Geller recorded a double, three runs scored and a stolen base. Ethan Geller tallied a single, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base, sophomore outfielder Hayden Dancsecs finished 1-for-1, and freshman outfielder Leon Chen scored once.
The Spartans (5-0 overall record) are scheduled to begin Rio Hondo League action by visiting San Marino on Thursday, March 3, at 3:30 p.m.
FLINTRIDGE PREP
The Wolves are off to a terrific start to the season after winning their five most recent matchups, including two Prep League games to move into sole possession of first place in the standings.
Flintridge Prep recently shut out host Chadwick of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, 8-0, in a league game on Tuesday, as four Wolves registered multi-hit performances. Senior utility player Dominick Schraeder collected three hits, two RBIs and one run scored. Junior outfielder John Kully tallied two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, senior outfielder Josh Beserra finished 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored, and senior outfielder Spencer Seid collected two hits and one RBI. Senior shortstop Nicholas Gonzalez registered three hits and a run scored. Senior first baseman Nathan Park had one hit and one run scored, and junior utility player Graham DesHotel went 1-for-3. Junior starting pitcher Max Brunngraber, who finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run, tossed four solid innings with four strikeouts and only two hits, but the bullpen was nearly perfect over the final three frames. Seid tossed two hitless innings with three strikeouts, while Beserra struck out one and walked a batter over one inning.
The Wolves earned another solid victory by defeating host Westminster La Quinta, 10-5, in a nonleague game on Saturday, Feb. 26, as DesHotel pitched four shutout innings with four strikeouts and four hits. Seid finished 1-for-2 with a double, three RBI and a run scored, Beserra tallied three hits, two RBIs and a run scored, and Schraeder collected three hits, one RBI and scored once. Gonzalez recorded a hit, two RBIs and a run scored, Brunngraber notched a hit and an RBI, Park had two hits and three runs scored, and Will Koh finished with one hit and two runs scored.
In an exciting pitchers’ duel, Flintridge Prep edged its visiting crosstown rival Pasadena Poly, 4-3, in a league game as Seid delivered a walk-off base hit. He struck out batters over five innings while allowing three hits and three walks on the mound. Kully was 2-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored, while DesHotel tallied two hits and one RBI. Schraeder drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, while Gonzalez and Beserra scored two and one runs, respectively.
The Wolves (8-1 overall, 2-0 in league) are scheduled to visit St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy of Downey for a nonleague game on Saturday, March 5, at 11 a.m.
ST. FRANCIS
The Golden Knights opened Mission League action by edging visiting West Hills Chaminade, 5-4, in a nine-inning game on Tuesday. Freshman pitcher Kibru Pam tossed five innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts while allowing one earned run on four hits and one walk. Senior pitcher Luke Fogarty, who finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, compiled four innings of work with eight strikeouts while allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. Sophomore catcher Brody Ruyle and sophomore infielder Holden Deitch each collected two hits, including one double, with one RBI and one run scored. Senior infielder Miles Leyva tallied two hits, senior outfielder Simon Lee had one hit and one RBI, and senior outfielders Alejandro Ramirez and Quinn Deitch each recorded singles. Freshman utility player Jordan Lewallen scored once, while junior outfielder Eric Bender had an RBI.
St. Francis (2-4 overall, 1-0 in league) is scheduled to conclude its season series by hosting Chaminade on Friday, March 4, at 3:30 p.m.
