The Sea Kings Junior Varsity lost to the Fountain Valley Barons 8-4 in game two of their three-game set this week. The Sea Kings rallied from a five-run deficit, but couldn’t complete the comeback, as base running and fielding miscues allowed the Barons to seal the win.
The Barons jumped out to a 5-0 lead over the first five innings largely thanks to four extra-base hits.
The Sea Kings came to life in the bottom of the fifth inning, loading the bases with no outs. The end result was only a single run scored, as the pitcher’s best friend, a double-play, was followed by a strikeout.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, trailing 5-1, the Sea Kings went back to work. With one out, Max Brengel (‘27) was hit by a pitch and then stole second. Prescott Nyman’s (‘27) line drive single to center field put runners on the corners. Porter Fyke (‘26) then lined an RBI single to left field to drive in Brengel. With runners on first and second, Crosby Eddy (‘27) singled to center field to plate Nyman, but Fyke was thrown out when he was caught between second and third bases. After a Barons’ pitching change, a walk to Sam Healy (‘27) again put runners at first and second for the Sea Kings. A hard ground ball just inside the third base bag by Brady Zenz (‘26) drove in Eddy and the Sea Kings had pulled to within one run.
Fountain Valley capitalized on sloppy Sea Kings’ defense in the top of the seventh to score three runs and put the game out of reach.
The Sea Kings offense was, literally, hit or miss all day. While they recorded eight hits, the Sea Kings also struck out ten times.
A trio of Sea Kings lead the offensive charge for the Sea Kings. Zenz was two for three with an RBI. Nyman was two for three with a run and a stolen base. And Eddy scored two runs, while going one for two plus a walk and driving in a run.
Brengel was held hitless for the first time in eight games, but his hit by pitch in the sixth inning allowed him to extend his on-base streak to ten games.
Nick DeSouza (‘27) came out of the bullpen for the Sea Kings to throw two innings without surrendering an earned run and striking out two.
Up next, the Sea Kings Junior Varsity travels to Fountain Valley for the final game in the series on Friday, March 28.