COD Baseball rally falls short in home opener vs. Huskies, 6-4

COD (0-1) opened the 2017 Baseball season with a three-run second inning, but a big third inning by the Monterey Park East Los Angeles Huskies (1-0) left the home side fighting until the end, but falling 6-4.

Freshman starting right handed pitcher Robin Landazuri (Redlands H.S.) got the nod on opening day and tossed three complete innings, dominating the first couple innings, but walks came back to doom the starter as he allowed four of them along with five hits, striking out two. Sophomore right handed relief pitcher Riley Owen (Tumwater, WA) came in to pitch two and two-thirds innings, surrendering two runs, both earned, on three hits, walking five, striking out one and was saddled with the loss. Freshman right handed relief pitcher Blake Garcia (Redlands H.S.) came in for an inning, giving up a run, which was earned and walking four and freshman right handed relief pitcher Hunter Torres (Indio Shadow Hills) came into wrap up the game, tossing the final two and a third innings, shutting down the Huskies lineup and striking out two.

The Roadrunners got things going in the bottom of the second as sophomore right fielder Trenton Covel (Palm Desert Xavier Prep) led off the inning with a walk, and after a pop out to short and a ground out to third, Covel ended up on second base with two outs. Freshman center fielder Frank Silva (La Quinta H.S.) would hit a two out infield single, which he stretched into a visit to second base as Covel crossed home when the Huskies decided to chuck the baseball into the visiting dugout, giving Desert the early 1-0 lead. 

They would continue to pad that lead as freshman second baseman Joseph Thibodeaux (Palm Desert H.S.) reached first on a throwing error by the East LA short stop scoring Silva from second base, then Thibodeaux stole second. Sophomore left fielder Jason Nall (Playa del Rey St. Bernard) would bring Thibodeaux home when he clobbered a shot left, giving the Roadrunners a 3-0 lead.
The Huskies would equalize in the top of the third, as they punched a one out, solo home run, and added two more on back-to-back singles and doubles to tie the game at 3-3. East Los Angeles would add another run in the top of the fifth, a run in the sixth and a run in the seventh was scored on a bases loaded walk. 

Desert was not done, in the bottom of the ninth, Covel would lead off the inning with a walk, then freshman third baseman Nicholas Follett (Toronto (ON) Bishop Allen Academy) walked and finally freshman designated hitter Jerred Soriano (Honolulu (HI) Moanalua) walked to load the bases, forcing the Huskies to change pitchers. With the bases loaded and only one out, sophomore center fielder Travis Tanaka (Honolulu (HI) St. Louis) dug in a reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Covel from third and getting Desert close, but unfortunately, that would be it for the Roadrunners.

Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.