First published in the April 7 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
La Cañada High School’s varsity baseball team head coach Carl Gschwender summarized the matchup between the visiting Spartans and Maranatha High School of Pasadena perfectly in one simple phrase: “That was awesome.”
LCHS had just edged perennial powerhouse Maranatha, 4-3, in a nonleague game behind clutch hitting and solid pitching to snap its four-game losing streak.
“The guys grinded out a victory tonight against a very good baseball team,” Gschwender said. “It was a fun game to watch and it was a fun game to coach.”
After the second inning, the Spartans found themselves in some trouble as Maranatha built a 3-0 lead. But LC’s offense responded in the top of the third when sophomore Hayden Dancsecs drove in a pair of RBIs on a two-out base hit to tie the game 3-3. He finished the evening 2-for-3 with a stolen base and the aforementioned RBIs.
“Hayden has been doing that all year for us; he is one of our better hitters,” Gschwender said. “He is a clutch hitter for us and he is young; that’s the best part — I get to have him for two more years.”
La Cañada sent junior Mateo Gallegos to the mound and despite allowing three early runs, he settled into a rhythm for the rest of the outing. He allowed four hits and three runs (one earned) over five-plus innings before handing the ball to senior captain Adam Geller to close the door. Geller tossed two hitless innings with one strikeout and one walk to earn the save while finishing with a base hit and a stolen base at the plate.
“Mateo throws strikes. He doesn’t throw hard, but he hits his spots. He’s just been one of our better pitchers this year, and he pitched a great game against a very good ball club,” Gschwender said. “Then Adam comes in and shuts it down. That’s my closer and I just need my starters to go five and then bring in that big boy.”
Freshman Josh Proctor tallied a double and a run scored, sophomore Matthew Hazelwood registered a base hit and a stolen base, and freshman Leon Chen scored once after reaching on a base hit.
Senior captain Ryan Kiessling and junior Alex Higa each scored once, while senior captain Timmy Park reached on a walk.
LCHS (9-5 overall record, 2-5 in league) is scheduled to visit Crescenta Valley High in a nonleague game on Friday, April 8, at 6 p.m.
SAN MARINO 4, LA CAÑADA 0
The Spartans were shut out by visiting San Marino in a Rio Hondo League game last Friday.
LCHS senior Brandon Cho allowed one earned run on three hits over four innings, while freshman Carson Kelly allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits with six strikeouts over three innings.
Junior Ethan Geller produced a base hit and a stolen base, while Proctor notched a base hit.
