By Corey Kwok
(West Covina) – Damien held hit parades in both the first and sixth innings to open up a 7-0 lead after six innings before turning away a late South Hills’ rally in the seventh to capture the Sierra league opener 7-4 Thursday over the host Huskies (4-2, 0-1).
Damien (3-3, 1-0) sent eight men up in the first scoring three times. Eric Quesada was struck by pitch and Aaron Calderon rolled a two run single through the 5-6 hole. Dorian Granados then ripped a solo shot on to Cameron Avenue. Granados went 2 for 4 on the day.
Tyler France moved over from third base to relieve starter Jeff Moran and pitch three shutout innings before surrendering a string of three hits and one double for three runs in the Spartans’ sixth. Griffin Lord punctuated it with a two run double to cap a 3 for 3, two run and two RBI day. Three other Damien batters recorded multiple hits as Joe Chavez (2-4), Kevin Hindes (2-4), and Jack Spohn (2-3) all had a pair of hits.
France got South Hills on the board in the sixth by scoring on a sacrifice fly by Richie Rollice and helped the Huskies get those three runs back with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and the bases loaded on his 3 RBI double. He hit is just fair down the right field line and narrowed the deficit to 7-4. But the next batter popped out to end the game.
Antonio Gonzales sailed through the first six innings with an efficient 71 pitch one run four hitter and had enough left in the tank to withstand the final inning rally and collect the complete game win.
Damien 3 1 0 0 0 3 0 – 7 13 4
South Hills 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 – 4 6 3
W: A. Gonzales, L: J.Moran
HR: D. Granados (D) top 2nd
2B (all with 1): J.Chavez (D), G.Lord (D), C.J. Saylor, T.France, J. Moran
Ks: SH – T.France 4, Eric Martinez 1, D – A.Gonzales 4.
Leave a Reply