The Sea Lions and Mustangs opened their Golden State Athletic Conference schedules with a double-header split at Point Loma.
First game (nine innings): The Sea Lions were in control of this game for the first four innings, building a 4-0 lead on an RBI on a ground out by SS Clinton Harwick, an RBI on a ground out by 2B Marcus Heisner, and back-to-back RBI doubles by DH Tyler Nordgren and LF Bryan Burkhead. Sea Lions starter Justin Lawrence held the Mustangs to one hit over the first four innings.
The Mustangs got on the board in the top of the fifth, when DH Joe Riddle scored on a ground out by 1B Spencer Downs. The Sea Lions got a two-run home run by RF Trey Hunt in the sixth, and the Mustangs got a home run by C Bryan Lucas in the seventh, making the score 6-2.
The Mustangs got back in the game a two-run home run by RF Chris Talley in the top of the eighth, off Nolan Stouder, who had just come in in relief of starter Justin Lawrence. Talley's home run made the score 6-4, and that's as close as the Mustangs got. Stouder was replaced by true freshman Garrett Gooding, and it was lights out. Gooding struck out five of the seven batters he faced, allowed one hit. The Sea Lions completed the scoring with a two-run home run by LF Brian Burkhead in the bottom of the eighth.
Burkhead went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Lawrence got the win; he allowed two runs on six hits, struck out five. Sea Lions CF Eddie Roberts made a good catch of a fly ball in the seventh. A.J. Work got the loss, and Lucas and LF Steve Karkenny when 2-for-4.
Second game (seven innings): This one was close all the way. The Mustangs started with two runs in the top of the first; the first one came on an RBI single by LF Steve Karkenny. Karkenny scored on a ground out by DH Joe Riddle, but the Mustangs missed a chance to score some more runs when RF Chris Talley was caught off third base, ending their half of the inning. The Sea Lions scored one run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by DH Tyler Nordgren.
The score stayed 2-1 until the sixth inning. The Sea Lions got double plays in the second and third innings; the one in the third inning was an unusual 3-6. The bottom of the fourth ended with CF Eddie Roberts caught stealing. The Mustangs had a runner in scoring position in the fifth, but he was stranded after a long at-bat by CF Tanner Leighton; Sea Lions starter Jack Archie eventually got Leighton to fly out.
The turning point of this game was the bottom of the fifth. The Sea Lions had runners at first and third with nobody out. Mustang starter Daniel Sheaffer was relieved by Zack Anderson. The first batter he faced, SS Clinton Harwick, hit a line drive in the direction of first base. It was caught by 1B Spencer Downs, and he stepped on the bag for an unassisted double play. Anderson got the next batter to fly out, stranding the runner at third.
The Mustangs got the winning run in the sixth, on a home run by Talley. The Sea Lions got one back in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by CF Eddie Roberts, and the score was 3-2 going into the final inning.
The Mustangs got two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. 2B Ryan Shakelford started with a single. He moved to second on a ground out, then to third on a bunt single by Leighton. The next batter, Karkenny, laid down another bunt single, scoring Shakelford. The Mustangs sent in Caleb Halvorson to pinch-hit, and he drew a walk, loading the bases. The next batter was Riddle, and he hit a single to score a run. The Sea Lions managed only a walk in the bottom of the seventh.
Sheaffer got the win, and Anderson got a save; Anderson pitched three innings, allowed one run on two hits, struck out one, walked two. Archie got the loss. Shakelford went 3-for-3 for the Mustangs. RF Trey Hunt went 2-for-3 for the Sea Lions.
Story from Point Loma site
If you've heard that Carroll B. Land Stadium is “America's most scenic ballpark”, well, there's quite a bit to support this claim. You've heard about those luxury skyboxes at all the big league ballparks for the corporate high-rollers? Carroll B. Land has the “Club View” over the left field dugout, and admission to it is free. They have an outdoor barbecue on the right field side, comfortable seating, and all this next to the Pacific Ocean. Fog was a factor in a couple of fly balls early in the first game. Because there are pedestrian areas and tennis courts behind home plate and on the right-field side, a siren sounds whenever a foul ball clears the netting around the field.
Coming later: an interview with The Master's Coach Monte Brooks
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