By Ed Piper
La Jolla finally got to play its long-awaited 2023 season opener Tues., Feb. 28. On a 1-2 pitch in the top of the eighth inning, Ethan Miller pinch-hit a grand slam at Morse on a 1-2 pitch to send the Vikings ahead 9-4 for, apparently, their first win of the year.
But wait, Morse, on a darkening weekday before we change the clocks March 11, realizes La Jolla wants to hurry up the rest of the eighth and get Morse to the plate to conclude the game. So they--the Tigers--begin taking tons of time, in Viking coach Gary Frank's account.
The plate umpire called the game, not because of darkness but for a forfeit against Morse for "travesty of the game"--which leaves us with the home team's protest to CIF, pending their decision.
Following the Sat., Feb. 25 rainout of La Jolla's scheduled opener, Frank said his players were adjusting, yet ready to go for the "make-up" opener at Morse three days later. They got more than they bargained for.
Lefty Cole Roberts, now a junior, went the regulation seven innings, scattering seven hits while walking only one and striking out four. He gave up three quick runs in the bottom of the first, but the Viking batters brought them back to a 3-3 tie.
With darkness falling, the umpire lets the teams go into extra innings to break a 4-4 tie. Miller, a senior, hit his bomb to straight-away left field, La Jolla going ahead 9-4 with Shane McMillan forcing in the other run before Miller came to the plate with a bases-loaded walk.
Now the funny business started. Frank ordered his succeeding batters "to swing through the next nine pitches to get us into the field before they call the game" (his own words afterward). Morse figured out La Jolla was trying to strike out and move to the bottom of the eighth.
So, according to Frank, Morse's pitcher struck out first baseman Justin Graff on three pitches. They called timeout and held a mound meeting for a couple of minutes.
Morse walked catcher John Hartford intentionally. The home team called timeout again and made a pitching change.
Before a pitch was made, another timeout was called. After a pitch behind Nicky Jamieson-Cacalano's head and an infield meeting on the mount, the plate umpire "rips off his mask and says that's it--I'm calling the game--forfeit against Morse for 'travesty of the game'--just trying to stall," reported the La Jolla manager.
The Vikings get back to action Fri., March 3, at Sage Creek, then play Sat., March 4, at home against Olympian in a 10:30 a.m. game.
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