LJ baseball 7, Lincoln 6 - decides City League title - 5/15

Senior Andrew Cardenas threw 6 2/3 innings

of ball in the title decider at Lincoln,

bringing the Vikings to the brink of a title.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

In the contentious fourth inning on Lincoln's home field Friday evening, May 15, La Jolla scored five runs against reliever Dom Mendoza to move out to a 6-0 lead.

After a foul popup by Viking Brady Wilson fell uncaught, Hornet coach Jesse De La Torre claimed that his two infielders on the left side, the shortstop and third baseman, had somehow been interfered with by the opposing third-base coach, Viking head coach Gary Frank. The game was delayed while De La Torre went out on the field, pointing and arguing his case with the plate umpire.

With the tension now so thick you could cut it, Lincoln came back with five runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh inning to pin the Vikings' backs against the wall: Could they survive the rally, hold on, and win the City League title after losing two straight games to their rivals down the 805 Monday and Wednesday?

After a courageous six-and-2/3-inning performance by righthander Andrew Cardenas, Frank brought in ace Charlie Smith with one out left to be recorded in the game. After walking pesky catcher/pitcher Oscar Lopez, the sophomore gave up a home run to Mendoza--his third in the three games this week--to bring home a trio of runs.

It was now 7-6, and La Jolla had no more room for error to take home the elusive championship in regulation innings. Smith then calmly induced Ari Estrada, the Hornets' fourth-slot hitter, to pop out to shortstop Brady Wilson, and the bench ran out to mob Charlie and celebrate briefly.

Vikings players stream from the bench to join

players on the field after the final out

at 6:45 p.m.--a long, long game.

It was an almost-bitter victory that will long be remembered in red-and-black circles. The what-if's are horrendous, but thankfully for Frank and gang, the newly-crowned City League champs await Division 3 postseason play Wed., May 20.

*  *  *

In the said fourth inning, Hunter Durfee got aboard on a hit-by-pitch. Mendoza, a sophomore, then walked Reed Turner. Zach Gergurich bunted, fielded by Mendoza in front of the mound. Dominick whirled to throw a laser to get Durfee at third, but he was too late. That loaded the bases.

Brady Wilson flied out to left, temporarily lowering the dial on the momentum. Back to the top of the order, Carter Strauss walked, forcing in the first of the five runs, giving La Jolla a 2-0 lead.

Harper Lane hit a laser that hit off first baseman Isaiah Kellough's glove, and beyond him onto the infield dirt, plating Turner. Charlie Martin, after back-to-back strikeouts earlier, lofted a fly to right, where replaced starter Sebas Estrada was now stationed, for a sacrifice fly, driving in "Snacks" Gergurich.

Ryan Khourajian then singled sharply to right, and the fifth and final run scored in the person of Harper Lane. The Vikings led, 6-0.