From Staff Reports Maranatha proved this week that Whittier Christian’s victory 21 days ago was just a blip on the map. On Tuesday, Maranatha defeated the Heralds, 9-1, and today (Friday), the Minutemen finished the week with a 12-1, mercy-rule victory at Whittier Christian. Over the last 72 hours, the Heralds collected just four hits […]
From Staff Reports
Maranatha proved this week that Whittier Christian’s victory 21 days ago was just a blip on the map.
On Tuesday, Maranatha defeated the Heralds, 9-1, and today (Friday), the Minutemen finished the week with a 12-1, mercy-rule victory at Whittier Christian.
Over the last 72 hours, the Heralds collected just four hits and pushed across only two unearned runs against four Maranatha pitchers.
On Friday, it was Alex Cornwell who went all five innings, and he surrendered just one hit and an unearned run.
Cornwell walked three and struck out nine to pick up the win.
The Maranatha offense was stout and saw seven players pick up at least one hit and another four Minutemen drove in two runs each.
Eddie Lopez went 2 for 3, scored two runs and drove in two more.
Max Blessinger had one hit, scored once and had two RBIs.
Ben Guess homered, scored twice and drove in two runs.
Kalani Chang went 2 for 3, scored and had an RBI.
Casey Popham had one hit, scored two runs and drove in two.
Trevor Marrs was 1 for 3 with a run scored, and Charles Acker had a hit and an RBI.
Julian Gonzalez had the lone hit for Whittier Christian.
Cornwell struck out seven different Heralds’ en route to his third win (3-0).
Maranatha (10-2 overall, 5-1 in league) will play Oxford Academy at 1 p.m. Saturday and then won’t play again until next Saturday, April 8, against Alhambra.
Quotable:
Maranatha coach Matt Shupper: “From the start of the game, we came out swinging. Hard hit balls, right at their guys. We felt confident in our approach and game plan and knew that balls would start to fall our way. We took quality at-bats and guys who had a hard time finding their swing early on in the season came out today in a big way.
Casey Popham hit a 2-run double followed immediately next pitch by Ben Guess hitting a towering 2-run home run to left field to shift all the momentum our way. Cornwell was on his game from the first pitch. 5 inning complete game, 9 strikeouts, 2 hits and 1 run unearned. He was sharp and only got better as the game went on.”
Box Score:
Maranatha: 0-4-6-0-2-(12)
W. Christian: 0-1-0-0-0-(1)
Olympic League Standings:
Maranatha (10-2 overall, 5-1 in league)
Village Christian (9-2, 5-1)
Valley Christian (9-5, 2-2)
Whittier Christian (9-9, 2-4)
Heritage Christian (5-8, 0-6)
Friday’s League Games:
Maranatha 12, Whittier Christian 1 (5 Innings)
Village Christian 2, Heritage Christian 1
