LJ baseball 6, Scripps Ranch 1

Sean Hofmann makes the pivot at second base

in attempted double play during Vikes' 6-1

demolishing of the Falcons.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

Timmy Holdgrafer now holds the La Jolla High school record with his 10th win, pitching his team to its 24th win of the season, also a school record, as the pinpoint-accurate righty handcuffed Scripps Ranch, 6-1, Tues., June 2, to advance LJHS to the CIF Division II title game Sat., June 6, at USD's Fowler Park at 3:30 p.m. The Vikings will face San Ysidro.

It was the second time in five days that La Jolla has defeated the Falcons in the double-elimination tournament. Last Friday the red and black prevailed, 9-3. This game was even more decisive. Scripps Ranch downed University City Saturday to gain a rematch against the Vikings.

La Jolla's success in each of their three playoff games led to having to start only their number-one and number-two pitchers. Meanwhile, Scripps Ranch had to go the hard route after losing Friday by using a pitcher in Saturday's game, then having to turn around and send out a hurler three days later.

With Holdgrafer limiting Scripps Ranch to five hits in his six innings of work, including five strikeouts and no walks, the script couldn't have gone better to this point for La Jolla. Going into the Division II playoffs with the number-one seeding, the Vikes have enjoyed home field advantage throughout. A large, supportive crowd was on hand for the team's final home game of the season.

Holdgrafer, as he often does, did it all, pounding the edges of the strike zone on the mound while hitting a triple in the bottom of the first inning to drive in James Whelan with La Jolla's first run.
The Western League Player of the Year is hitting .368 and has 20 steals in 24 attempts, in addition to his 10 wins and 0.74 ERA.

Lefty Weston Clark (7-2), a First Team All-Leaguer with Holdgrafer, is scheduled to start Saturday's championship game on the USD campus. Timmy is available to pitch up to four innings, if needed, as each hurler is allotted 10 per week.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper