From Staff Reports Maranatha needed to hold serve Tuesday and Thursday against Valley Christian if they wanted to have a shot at an Olympic League championship. The Minutemen did just that with a 7-2 victory on Tuesday, and they held on Thursday night for a 7-6 win. Not only did they become the first team […]
From Staff Reports
Maranatha needed to hold serve Tuesday and Thursday against Valley Christian if they wanted to have a shot at an Olympic League championship.
The Minutemen did just that with a 7-2 victory on Tuesday, and they held on Thursday night for a 7-6 win.
Not only did they become the first team in the area to win a 20th game, Maranatha will finish the regular season with two games against first-place Village Christian.
Even though the Minutemen won the first head-to-head match-up with the Crusaders, Village Christian (8-1) holds a one-game lead.
The Crusaders play at Whittier Christian today (Friday), and then finish off with two against the Minutemen.
Back to Thursday night, Alex Cornwell went 5 1/3 innings, allowing six runs, but only two were earned.
Cornwell scattered four hits, walked two and struck out four.
The Maranatha defense committed three errors to allow Valley Christian to hang around late.
Dawson Netz came in and closed the door.
Netz went the final 1 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball.
He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out three.
Max Blessinger was the only Maranatha player with two hits.
The sophomore doubled, scored once, drove in a run and stole a base.
Blessinger is just five stolen bases from the school record of 36.
Designated hitter Eddie Lopez was 1 for 4 and scored a run.
Dawson Netz and Dante Campione each had an RBI.
Ben Guess was 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
Kalani Chang had one hit, scored once and drove in a run.
Marco Martinez and Charles Acker both went 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Quotable:
Maranatha coach Matt Shupper: “Valley played a great game tonight and my guys came in ready to go. The defense was not good tonight from us, but our offense made up for it. Alex Cornwell battled through a tough inning and came out of it better. This was a positive start for him. Dawson did a phenomenal job in relief. Bottom of the lineup cashed in a bunch of RBIs tonight. Proud of my guys sticking with their offensive approach. We are excited to play for a league title next week.”
Box Score:
VCHS: 1-1-1-0-0-3-0-(6)
MHS: 5-0-0-0-1-1-X-(7)
Olympic League Standings:
Village Christian (19-3 overall, 8-1 in league)
Maranatha (20-5, 8-2)
Valley Christian (13-12, 3-7)
Heritage Christian (11-14, 3-7)
Whittier Christian (12-15, 3-8)
Maranatha Remaining Schedule:
Tuesday: Maranatha at Village Christian at 4
Thursday: Village Christian vs Maranatha at Brookside Park at 6
