LJ baseball 16, Otay Ranch 12

Viking catcher Garrett Brown (dealing with

another pitch in the dirt) was kept

plenty busy in La Jolla's wild

16-12 win at Otay Ranch.

(Photo by Ed Piper, Jr.)

By Ed Piper, Jr.

Whether it was something in the water or the rigors of tournament play that wear out pitching staffs, La Jolla batted around in the top of the sixth inning and scored eight runs to win going away, 16-12, at Otay Ranch Tues., April 11, on the second day of pool play in the annual Lions Baseball Tournament.

The Vikings, whose lumber has been slumbering the first half of the season, broke out with the 16 runs, led by Nick Hammel's two-run single in the big inning, as well as RBI's by several other players.

The raggedly-played game was characterized by the plate umpire's becoming rattled in the bottom of the third, calling an end to the inning after La Jolla recorded only two outs in the field. From then on, his calls showed some shakiness.

In the third, Viking shortstop Zach Sehgal took an underhanded toss from second baseman Connor McNally on a potential double play ball, and appeared to make the putout at second. McNally was a little tentative on the play. The runner, Cristian Lopez, headed for the dugout, seeming to think he was out. But the base umpire called him safe, ruling that he beat the throw. That made the score 7-5, Otay Ranch now only trailing by two runs with no outs in the hard-fought game.

What appeared to overload the home plate umpire's decision-making came on the next play: With the bases full and Sam Stewart now pitching to his second batter, having been brought in to relieve La Jolla starter Nick Ferenczy, the Mustangs' Justin Legaspi hit a grounder to third baseman Noah Brown. Brown made the throw home for the force for the first out.

Catcher Garrett Brown threw to first to get another out, but Legaspi was called safe. That's when La Jolla coach Gary Frank appealed to the plate umpire that his catcher was obstructed by the runner, Alex Artalejo, who did not slide into home. The plate umpire concurred and called Legaspi out at first, completing the double play.

Otay Ranch coach Marco Dickinson disputed the call. Discussion went on for a few minutes, first between the plate umpire and Frank, then Dickinson. Finally, after affirming the double play, the plate umpire signaled the end of the inning. He apparently had in his mind that Sehgal's play at second had been the first out.

In any case, the La Jolla players left the field. They told a reporter in the dugout, "Don't say anything." After Dickinson contested the call that the third inning was over, the plate umpire had the Vikings return to the field. Otay Ranch scored three runs in the inning, making the score 7-6.

Three innings later, in the top of the sixth, with two Viking runs already in, Otay Ranch leading 10-9 with one out, Dimich got aboard on a base on balls. But after Otay's coach again appealed, the plate umpire called Dimich back, ruling the count was only 3-and-2. Back in the batter's box, Dimich was plugged in the shoulder by pitcher Felix Canizalez, though it wasn't intentional.

After that, Viking players in the dugout held up fingers to help the plate umpire keep track of the count.

In the eight-run sixth, with La Jolla trailing 10-7, one out, Garrett Brown boomed a triple to center to score Ferenczy, who had walked, and Sehgal, who singled. The ball rolled near the fence in 400-foot territory. Brown ended up 4-for-5 on the day. Dimich was hit by a pitch and stole second.

A new pitcher was brought in for Canizalez, Osvaldo Tovalin. Hammel then drove in Brown and Dimich, putting the Vikings in the lead to stay, 11-10. Tovalin, the Mustangs' starting first baseman, didn't record an out against the six batters he faced. He walked his first batter, Blaise Gimber. McNally, inserted back into the game, singled to right. With the bases loaded, Noah Brown was hit by the pitch, forcing in a run.

Dane Hansen, in his second at-bat in the inning, walked to force in another run. Ferenczy then worked Tovalin for another base on balls and yet another run, forcing the pitcher out of the game. Then, facing the Mustangs' fifth pitcher in the game, Omar Lopez, Sehgal flied to center for a sacrifice, driving in Noah Brown from third. Garrett Brown lined out to second to end the inning for his only out of the day.