In a game that saw both teams exchange haymakers throughout, the Sea Kings Freshmen scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure an 11-11 tie with the Newport Harbor Sailors.
After the Sailors were held scoreless in the top of the first inning, JJ Haley (‘28) got the scoring started for the Sea Kings with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the frame.
The Sailors’ clean up man played “anything you can do, I can do better” and lead off the top of the second inning with his own big fly to tie the score at one.
In the bottom of the second, the Sailors’ pitcher induced three ground balls to start the inning. Unfortunately for him, an error on the Newport Harbor shortstop allowed the inning to continue, and continue it did. After the error, Max Nguyen (‘28) drew a four-pitch walk and that brought Haley to the plate again. Just as in the first inning, Haley got ahead in the count and made the Sailors pay, hitting a three-run home run to center field. And just like that, the Sea Kings were back in front 4-1. But the offenses were just getting started.
In the top of the third inning, Newport Harbor strung together back-to-back doubles and a single to post two runs and close the gap to 4-3.
Sensing the slugfest in progress, the Sea Kings answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the third. Luke Kittleson (‘28) lead off the frame with a double and then starting pitcher Brody Majit (‘28) was hit by a pitch. Jackson Lawrence (‘28) then singled to drive in Kittleson. Sea Kings backstop Claire O’Kelly (‘28) attempted to sacrifice the runners over to second and third, but instead earned a bunt single to load the bases. Majit then scored the second run of the inning when the Sailors’ pitcher balked. To add insult to injury, Lawrence then scored on a passed ball. The third inning ended with the score Sea Kings 7, Sailors 3.
The top of the fourth inning saw the Sailors score a run on a bases-loaded walk. At this point in the game, both teams’ arms were apparently tired from swinging their bats, and the scoring paused for the next one and a half innings. This brief respite only served to set up the fireworks that ended the game.
In the top of the sixth inning, facing a three run deficit, the Sailors batted around and scored four runs to take the lead.
The Sea Kings had plenty more fight in them and in the bottom of the sixth inning, they posted two runs when both Kittleson and Majit hit clutch two-out RBI doubles.
The bell rang for the seventh and final round to start with the score sitting at Sea Kings 9, Sailors 8. By taking advantage of three walks, the Sailors were able take the lead in the top half of the frame when they scored three runs despite producing only one hit.
O’Kelly lead off the bottom of the seventh inning for the Sea Kings and was gifted an error by the Sailors’ third baseman. Tait Weissman (‘28) followed this with a single to center filed to put the tying runners on base. Man of the match Haley then strode to the plate and laced an RBI single into left field to plate O’Kelly and draw the Sea Kings to within one run. Following a strikeout, the Sea Kings were down to their last out with the tying run on third base and the winning run on second base. Number three hitter Colt Fyke (‘28) quickly found himself down 0-2 in the count and the Sea Kings were down to their last strike. On the next pitch, Weissman was able to score from third base for his second run of the game, and the Sea Kings had tied it up.
The game was finalized as a tie, 11-11, at the end of seven innings.
The Sea Kings offense featured many stars on the day, none more so than Haley, who finished four for five, with two home runs, three runs scored, four RBI and a stolen base.
Out of the clean-up spot, Kittleson went three for four, with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.
Lawrence and O’Kelly gave the Sea Kings great production from the bottom half of the batting order, as they both went two for four with a double and a run scored.
O’Kelly’s starting battery-mate Majit ended his day at the plate with a line of one for three with a double, a run scored and an RBI. He also reached base when he was hit by a pitch in the third inning.
The Sea Kings Freshmen (3-3-1) return to action Wednesday, March 19 for the middle game of this week’s three-game set versus Newport Harbor.