Lancer Varsity Baseball Wins 2nd League Title in 3 Years with Sweep over the Eagles
Posted May 9th, 2008 in Athletics, High School
Glendora, CA Yesterday Western Christian completed a three game sweep of Arrowhead Christian with a 9-3 win. The win gives the Lancers their second Christian League Championship in three years and a number one seed in the C.I.F. Division V playoffs that begin next week. This game followed a Tuesday barn burner in which Western Christian rallied on the Eagles from a 3-2 deficit to put up 8 runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
In yesterday’s game, Junior Daniel Sutton picked up his sixth win of the season (6-3) and remained perfect in League play at 5-0 with his complete game 8 strike out effort. In the top of the first inning two defensive miscues gave the Eagles a 1-0 edge, but the Lancers would respond big in their half of the frame. Junior Robert Wiley led off with a single and was followed by a bunt single from Junior Anthony Llorens. A sacrifice bunt by Sutton moved the runners over before Senior Mark Reynoso (.571 with 8 home runs) was walked to load the bases. Freshman Mark McMahon singled in Wiley to tie the score at 1-1 and Sophomore CJ Beatty followed with two run double down the left field line. McMahon then scored on Junior RJ Pabon’s push bunt for the 4-1 edge. Junior Reed Covington was hit by a pitch putting runners at first and third. Beatty then gave the Lancers a 5-1 lead as he trotted home when the Eagle’s catcher was unable to shut down Covington’s steal attempt at second base.
A lead off triple in the top of the second for the Eagles led to a run and cut the Lancer’s lead to 5-2 as Western Christian was held scoreless with a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the inning. Sutton then settled in and retired the next nine hitters in a row on three strike outs and a phenomenol running catch deep in the left center field gap by Wiley in the fourth inning. In the bottom of the third inning Western Christian padded their lead with three more runs. McMahon led off the inning with a single and moved to second base on Beatty’s successful hit and run attempt. Pabon followed with a single putting runners at first and third which set the table for Covington’s two run triple deep into the left center field gap. He scored one pitch later when Sophomore Aaron Opsvig drove a fast ball to right field giving the Lancers an 8-2 edge.
Western Christian finished their scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning when Sutton drew a lead off walk and then stole second base. A fly out and a strike out led to Pabon’s two out fly ball to right field that was misplayed allowing Sutton to score the final insurance run. The Eagles tacked on one more run in the top of the sixth, but never really posed a threat for a comeback the rest of the way.
Since Head Coach Mark Gabbard took over in 2006 the Lancers have gone 38-35 overall, 23-13 in league, and have won 2 league titles. He comments, “Our men have really bought into trying to create excellence so people will hear our witness. This is a good stepping stone for us, but it is not enough to be happy with just getting to the playoffs. It is back to work to pursue our dream and Glorify God!”
The win improves the Lancers to 15-10 on the year and they finished league at 9-3. The C.I.F. playoff seedings come out on Monday in which Western Christian will be paired against a #3 team from another league. They will have a home game the first round at Citrus College at 3:30P on Friday (May 16th).
