Photos by Matt Scholtz
Photography Editor
Varsity baseball suffered its third loss in league play after falling in a close matchup against San Marino High School at home on Friday, March 31. The Tigers’ attempt at a comeback late in the seventh inning was thwarted by a double play to give the Titans a 2-1 win.
South Pas headed into the matchup as the underdogs after losing to the Titans in the past four years. Despite this, the Tigers were determined to break that streak.
San Marino drew first blood in the matchup after dialing in on senior pitcher Jacob Luevano, despite his best efforts. Once the Titans put a man on second base, San Marino brought him home off of a single to give them an early 1-0 lead. Junior catcher Edwin Espinal managed to halt additional runs with two throw outs to move the game into the second inning.
Although nothing amounted in the second inning, the Tigers mustered up a run of their own in the third, after junior Isaac Luevano came home off of senior Kevin Park’s sac fly to tie the game.
San Marino answered back in the fourth with a sac fly of their own until a sliding catch by senior Noah Miyamae ended the Titans’ chance at another run. Miyamae would close out the fifth inning out as well with another off-balanced catch to push the game into the sixth inning.
Offensively, South Pas began to show improvement over the Titans’ pitching with Park and sophomore Dylan Benton getting on base with a single, only to give up the inning on two back to back pop flies.
The Tigers’ attempt at another comeback in the seventh inning was met with marginal success. J. Luevano managed to reach second base, followed by I. Luevano getting to second base himself, and junior Zach Howorth loading the bases with no outs. Next up at bat, senior Kyle Ninomiya popped the ball up which was easily caught by the Titan outfielders. This was followed by Park lining the ball up the middle, only to have the the shortstop make a leaping catch and completing a double play to end the game.
With the loss, South Pas baseball falls to 1-3 in league and is tied for fifth place with Monrovia High School. The Tigers’ next game after spring break will be a non-conference matchup against Eagle Rock High School at home on Tuesday, April 11.
