In a game that saw the Sea Kings Junior Varsity bang out a season-high ten hits, the Sea Kings lost 4-3 in nine innings to the Los Alamitos Griffins.
The Griffins established a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when a leadoff base hit ultimately turned into a run as a result of a passed ball.
Los Alamitos returned the favor in the top of the third inning when a Sea Kings leadoff single by Jacob Olson (‘27) turned into a run thanks to a pair of errors by the Griffins’ catcher and center fielder.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Griffins retook the lead when a hit by pitch and stolen base were followed by an RBI single making the score 2-1 Los Alamitos.
The Griffins pushed the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning when they loaded the bases and then scored on a groundout.
The Sea Kings took their own turn loading the bases in the top of the sixth inning when they started the frame with consecutive singles from Alex Wellmerling (‘27), Cason Yarnall (‘27) and Max Brengel (‘27). Wellmerling was driven in by a single off the bat of Prescott Nyman (‘27) and then a sacrifice fly by Maxwell Morton (‘27) brought home Yarnall to tie the score 3-3.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Griffins were in position to score a walk off victory after a hit by pitch and stolen base put the winning run on second base. The Griffins’ hopes came crashing down when Sea Kings’ center fielder Olson made a game-saving, diving catch and doubled up the Los Alamitos baserunner to send the game into extra innings.
The Sea Kings threatened to score and take the lead in the top of the eighth inning when leadoff batter Brengel reached on a two-base error and then stole third base. Brengel tried to score when the next batter, Nyman, hit a chopper back to the pitcher, but was cut down at the plate. Cash Burns (‘27) followed with a single, and then Nyman and Burns advanced to second and third bases, respectively, on a passed ball. The inning ended when Morton lined out to right field and Nyman was thrown out after tagging up and trying to score from third base.
The Griffins went quietly in the bottom of the eighth inning, as did the Sea Kings in the top of the ninth inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Griffins were able to push across the winning run with an RBI single after loading the bases on a hit by pitch, a single and an error.
Burns got his first start of the season on the mound for the Sea Kings and provided four and one-third solid innings of mound work, allowing two earned runs on three hits, while striking out six. At the plate, Burns contributed two base hits in his three at bats.
Sam Healy (‘27) relieved Burns and was excellent. He pitched two and two-thirds innings of one hit ball and did not allow a run.
Yarnall scored a run as part of a two for four day at the plate, while Brengel was also two for four and stole a base.
Wellmerling finished his day one for three with a run scored.
The Sea Kings Junior Varsity will close out their season series with the Los Alamitos Griffins at home on Friday, April 11.