By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor La Salle was able to celebrate Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Santa Monica in a CIF-SS Division 3 wild card game for about 24 hours. The Lancers were back on the practice field Wednesday to get ready to take on top-seeded Quartz Hill (24-5) today (Thursday) at 3:15. La Salle will […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
La Salle was able to celebrate Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Santa Monica in a CIF-SS Division 3 wild card game for about 24 hours.
The Lancers were back on the practice field Wednesday to get ready to take on top-seeded Quartz Hill (24-5) today (Thursday) at 3:15.
La Salle will make the 80-mile trip and with the knowledge that people assume a wild card team’s chances of beating a No. 1 seed is incredibly unlikely.
But overlook this feisty Lancers’ team at your own peril.
And if the confidence level of at least giving the Rebels a run for their money wasn’t enough, having senior lefty Grant Fosselman on the mound is yet another reason to say La Salle has a shot at the favorites.
Fosselman is 4-5, but don’t let that record fool you.
He boasts a 2.06 ERA and has a team-best 76 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched.
Fosselman isn’t going to blow teams away, but his control and ability to mix speeds and locations makes him a worthy foe.
His losses have come in games the Lancers’ offense was hibernating.
“There have been times where we couldn’t produce offensively, and that makes me realize that I have to pitch as close to mistake-free as I can,” Fosselman said. “I am really confident we will compete, because our team has battled all year, and I think I have the experience to handle the pressure of pitching against a No. 1 seed and it being played at their place.”
La Salle defeated Santa Monica on Monday in a CIF-SS Division 3 wild card game in which Zane Lindeman threw a four-hit shutout.
The Lancers have just one hitter over the .300 mark (Ethan Patrick) but the offense showed signs of life on Tuesday.
Patrick is now hitting .442 and has an area-best 42 base hits.
The next closest is Sammy Martinez, who is hitting .271. and is second on the team with 14 RBI.
“I think we just need to stay calm and play our game, shortstop Ethan Patrick said. “We just need to play how we know we can play, and we will do well. I have so much confidence in Grant. He has been great for us all year and I know he is going to come out and keep us in the game. He always does a great job on the mound and we are going to need to get him some run support.”
Quartz Hill went 14-0 en route to the Golden League championship and has given up just 106 runs in their 29 games this season.
The Rebels have nine players with at least 10 RBI apiece, including three with 20.
Andrew Garcia leads the way with 31 RBI and 3
