Viking pitching coach Koa Scott (sweatshirt) makes
a mound visit in the top of the fifth inning. Will
Griebe-Arzate (9, left) is in his fifth and last
inning of work; Ryan Kestler (far right)
will relieve in the sixth.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
It was the top of the seventh, and La Jolla--struggling with a 6-8 record, having lost two of three games in the Lions Tournament--was in danger of losing a 6-5 lead to visiting Imperial.
The lead had been gained only the half-inning before, when reliable Harper Lane stroked a flair to right-center to drive in Hank Hansen.
Lefty Ryan Kestler, after striking out two Tiger batters, had walked two more to load the bases. Gary Frank's Vikings were barely holding onto hope.
As the coach had said earlier in the week, "We've had some late losses in close games recently." Could La Jolla hang on?
Frank brought in Hansen to close the game. He had done it two days earlier on only five pitches to vanquish Rocky Mountain 3-2.
Imperial coach Javier Ramos inserted Antonio Urena, a freshman, to pinch-hit for Jacob Salgado. Hansen, the veteran senior, induced Urena to hit a weak infield bounder that Hank pounced on, ran halfway to first base, then underhanded the ball to Kestler, now back at his familiar first base spot, and La Jolla let out a giant breath of relief.
The Vikings won their second game of the week-long Spring break tournament Thurs., April 3, moved to 7-8 on the season, and looked forward to enjoying the rest of their week off from school. Eastern League play starts next Thurs., April 10.
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