The Sea Kings Varsity rallied late to overcome a three run deficit and cinch an 8-6 victory in their series finale with the Los Alamitos Griffins on Friday.
Both offenses came out swinging in the first inning, as each team scored two runs in the first frame. The Sea Kings leadoff man, Princeton-commit Vincent Menard (‘25) scored on an error after drawing a walk and Brady Gadol (‘25) singled and scored thanks to an RBI single by starting pitcher Stevie Jones (‘26).
After the Sea Kings went one, two, three in the top of the second inning, the Griffins plated two runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-2 lead.
The top of the fourth inning saw the Sea Kings load the bases with one out, but fail to score. In the bottom of the frame, the Griffins extended their lead to 5-2 courtesy of a leadoff home run to left field.
With nine outs remaining and facing a possible series sweep by the Griffins, the Sea Kings offense leveled up in the fifth inning. Menard and Gadol, once again, started the hit parade with back-to-back singles to open the inning. After Ganon Overfelt (‘25) was hit by a pitch, the Sea Kings had the bases loaded. Jones collected his second RBI of the game when his sacrifice fly plated Menard. The next batter, JJ Haley (‘28) grounded into a fielder’s choice, which allowed Gadol to score and the Sea Kings had pulled to within one run. Dylan O’Kelly (‘25) kept the party going with a clutch two-out double to score Haley and tie the game. Catcher Charlie Kaster (‘26) then singled to center field and when O’Kelly came around to score, the Sea Kings had come all the way back to take a 6-5 lead.
The Griffins were not done yet, though. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Los Alamitos parlayed a hit by pitch, a wild pitch and a single into the tying run and the score stood at 6-6 with two innings to go.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Sea Kings first two batters reached base as Jack Phillips (‘28) singled to center field and Menard’s ground ball was misplayed by the Griffins’ third baseman. Gadol then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third bases. With still only one out, the Sea Kings again called upon the sacrifice bunt, and this time Overfelt executed it to perfection with both Phillips and Menard scoring on his effort. The inning ended with the Sea Kings ahead 8-6.
The Sea Kings called upon senior Noah Bertrand (‘25) to come out of the bullpen and secure the save. Bertrand pitched the final two innings, allowing zero hits and zero runs, while facing the minimum six batters.
The Sea Kings got contributions up and down the lineup on Friday.
Leadoff man Menard was one for three plus a walk and scored three runs.
Out of the two hole, Gadol was two for three and scored two runs.
Overfelt reached base on a hit by pitch, but most significantly, recorded two RBI with his winning sacrifice bunt.
Jones also collected two RBI for the Sea Kings via a single and a sacrifice fly.
O’Kelly wrapped up his day with a stat line of one for three with a double, a run scored and an RBI.
Kaster lead the team with three hits, going three for four on the day and collecting an RBI and a stolen base.
The Sea Kings Varsity hit the road to face the Marina Vikings in game one of their three-game series next Tuesday, April 15.