In a game that came down to the wire, the Sea Kings Freshmen dropped a 4-2 decision to the Fountain Valley Barons on Friday. The Sea Kings actually out-hit the Barons, but saw a number of potential runs evaporate on the base paths, as the Barons turned two double plays and the Sea Kings stranded eight runners throughout the game.
The Sea Kings broke the seal on a 0-0 tie in the top of the third inning when Tait Weissman (‘28), JJ Haley (‘28) and Luca DiNapoli (‘28) hit consecutive singles to plate a run and put the Sea Kings up 1-0.
Fountain Valley bounced back to knot the score at one in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Undaunted, the Sea Kings responded in the top of the fifth inning and reestablished a one-run lead with a two-out rally that saw DiNapoli’s single drive home Haley, who had doubled.
Again, the Barons stormed back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning after the Sea Kings’ pitcher courted trouble with a leadoff hit by pitch and walk. One batter later, a double drove in both baserunners and the Barons had a 3-2 lead.
The Barons added some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth inning, again courtesy of a walk. After the free pass, the Barons’ baserunner stole second and third bases, and scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Sea Kings put up a fight in the seventh inning, as Danny Angeloff singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Haley was up next, but the Barons were taking no chances and intentionally walked the slugger to put the tying run on first base. The move paid off when the Sea Kings’ next batter popped out to second base to end the game.
Haley filled up the scorebook, going three for three on the day with two doubles, while adding a walk, a stolen base and a run scored. Haley’s hitting streak now stands at seven games.
DiNapoli extended his on-base streak to four games, as he went two for four with two RBI and two stolen bases.
With her second inning single, catcher Claire O’Kelly (‘28) stretched her on-base streak to seven games.
The Sea Kings Freshmen begin their three-game set with the Huntington Beach Oilers on Tuesday, April 1.