By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor Unfortunately for Flintridge Prep, the writing was on the wall early in the Rebels’ 10-5 loss to visiting Arroyo Grande Wednesday evening in a CIF-SS Division 4 wild card contest at the Glendale Sports Complex. And it was written in bright colors. The Eagles scored five first-inning runs off starter […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
Unfortunately for Flintridge Prep, the writing was on the wall early in the Rebels’ 10-5 loss to visiting Arroyo Grande Wednesday evening in a CIF-SS Division 4 wild card contest at the Glendale Sports Complex.
And it was written in bright colors.
The Eagles scored five first-inning runs off starter Thomas Kosakowski and never trailed.
They sent 10 batters to the plate in the first frame.
Kosakowski was pulled after retiring just two batters.
Prep got as close as 7-5 at one point, but Arroyo Grande put the game away late.
Bradley Noble replaced Kosakowski in the first inning and went the next 5 1/3 innings, while keeping the Eagles at bay.
Jack Enzminger was the offensive star for Prep.
Enzminger had two doubles and drove in four runs.
Arroyo Grande (19-13) made a 173-mile bus ride for the first round match up.
Cameron Hirahara went 3 for 3 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs for the Eagles.
“We didn’t play real well, but we got ahead early and we were able to hold the lead,” Arroyo Grande coach Brad Lachemann said.
Lachemann, the son of former Angels pitching coach Marcel Lachemann, wasn’t happy with his team’s six errors, but was pleased with the aggressive approach his offense displayed Wednesday.
“We didn’t make some plays we should have, and will have to play much better if we’re to continue our season, but our guys battled throughout and I’m proud of them.”
Nick Davis, Kendall Kikkawa, Brian Pipes, Max Rosenfeld and Aidan Schraeder all had one hit apiece for the Rebels.
Pipes and Kikkawa scored twice.
Sam Soares’ pinch-hit, two-run double in the fifth extended the Eagles’ lead to 7-3.
The loss marked the end of one of the area’s most storied athletes.
Kendall Kikkawa, who was a star for the Rebels’ football, basketball and baseball teams played his final high school game, and will attend Cal-Berkeley.
Kikkawa’s athletic prowess is matched by his 4.2 grade-point average, and he was so impressive, Footlocker recently presented the Rebels’ senior with a surprise $20,000 check towards his education in front of the entire student body.
After being moved up a couple division’s and suffering a few major injuries to key players, Prep coach Guillermo Gonzalez was rightfully proud of his team’s character.
“It was an up-and-down season, but through it all, our kids played with heart and passion all season,” Gonzalez said. “It’s tough to come back from such an early deficit, but our kids didn’t stop fighting till the end.”
Quotable:
Flintridge Prep senior Kendall Kikkawa: “While I suffered disappointing playoff losses in all three sports, I realized that I didn’t have much to hang my head. I loved my athletic career at Prep, it has truly been so much fun. I had the opportunity to flourish as a three-sport athlete, and my senior year was great. I’ve thought about how things could have gone differently here and there, but at this point, all I can do is appreciate the experiences I’ve had. I’m very thankful to my family and my coaches for pushing me to be successful, and I’m going to miss it next year.”
