Willow Glen Resident

Sports

Rams get their hits, but no win against Pioneer

By Kevin Sparrer

Dewey Rogge, Elliot Hoffman and Cory Kingston used their bats as best they could, but it just wasn't enough when the Willow Glen baseball closed out the season at Pioneer on May 10.

Rogge, Hoffman and Kingston combined for six hits, but the Rams lost 10-6 to the Mustangs in the final game of Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division season. The loss left Willow Glen 4-17 in league play and 6-18 for the year.

Kingston knocked his pair of hits and was able to score twice and drive in one, while Hoffman also crossed home plate twice. Rogge went 2 for 2 with a double and three RBIs.

The Rams gave up seven runs in the bottom of the first but fought back hard to score one in the third, two in the fourth and another three in the sixth, but it was too little too late. Pioneer added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to seal the win.

It was in the top of the sixth when Willow Glen fought the hardest. After an out to open the inning, Hoffman dropped in a flare over second base for a single. He moved to second when Kingston laid down a bunt for a hit. Brandon Mendoza hit a shot at third that the third baseman couldn't handle, and Hoffman was able to score from second, leaving Mendoza and Kingston on second and third.

Rogge cleared the bases with a blast that one-hopped the wall and left him on second. Rogge went to third on a wild pitch before Pioneer was able to settle down and get the next two batters to end the inning.

Mendoza had only one hit in the loss, but he also scored one of the six runs for the Rams. Jake Goetz knocked a single in his two at-bats, and Daniel O'Shaunessy ripped a single through the hole at short.

After Pioneer's rally for seven runs in the first inning on only four hits, Goetz came on with one out and shut down the Mustangs to end the inning. Goetz then threw a perfect second inning, forcing a fly ball, a ground ball to first and a pop fly to the shortstop. In the third, Goetz allowed a walk and a hit, but was able to get out of the inning without allowing any runs. Then again in the fourth, Goetz shut down the Mustangs in order with a ground ball and two in the air. Goetz lost it a bit in the fifth allowing three runs, but still had a successful day on the mound.

Greg Kompelien came in to finish the game on the mound in the bottom of the sixth. Kompelien got in a little trouble early, allowing a single and hitting a batter to open the inning, but the defense held behind him, turning a 6-4-3 double play to get two outs. Kompelien then threw a fly ball to left field to end the inning without any more damage from the dangerous Pioneer hitting.

On May 8, Willow Glen was able to defeat Westmont 11-3 with Gregg Garrity leading the offensive attack.

Garrity knocked a pair of doubles, scored once and drove in three runs for the Rams. Kompelien also drove in two runs on one hit. Kompelien also scored once in the win. Garrity had a hit and scored twice; Rogge and Justin Fuller each had a hit and scored a run apiece; and Kyle Lundquist had a hit.

Kingston wasn't able to get a hit, but he was hit by two pitches and was able to score three times in the win.