By Ed Piper
Rightfielder Dillon Popkins drove in Nicky Reynolds and Kevin Steel, all seniors, with a ground-rule double that took one hop and bounced over the fence in the bottom of the third inning, and La Jolla rode a 5-run inning to a 7-2 win over visiting Hilltop Tues., May 17, to reach the Division 3 postseason double-elimination tournament beginning today.
The Vikings (now 18-11), the fifth seed, travel to Mt. Carmel, seeded fourth, to play a 3:30 p,m. game. They have the cushion of being able to lose without the immediate sudden-death play-or-go-home situation of yesterday's play-in CIF qualifier.
Steel, the ace righthander, allowed only three hits in going six innings before giving way to closer Spence Carswell in the seventh inning. Steel ups his record to 9-2. He got out of some jams after giving up two runs in the top of the first, including stabbing a liner back to the mound with the bases loaded in the sixth and throwing over to first for an inning-ending double play.
La Jolla's offense, besides the early 2-0 deficit, got off to a slow start. Hitters made the necessary adjustments against Hilltop starter. senior righthander Christian Andrews, and erupted for the game-changing five-run third inning.
"Just like we have done all year, we got several contributions from everyone on the team," said La Jolla coach Gary Frank after the game. "To be missing two more starters (in addition to senior centerfielder Connor Hobbs to an ACL injury two weeks ago) due to illness (first baseman/pitcher Beau Brown and catcher Cole Duffy) and have so many role players step in and lead us to a come-from-behind playoff win is a great example of the depth and heart of this 2022 baseball team."
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