Griffins take comeback approach in sweep of Mesa

By Ramon Scott
Updated: March 31, 2017

Beard

2017 GROSSMONT GRIFFINS BASEBALL

By Ramon Scott

EastCountySports.com

SAN DIEGO – The Grossmont Griffins spotted San Diego Mesa College four runs in the first inning, but no lead is safe against the explosive Griffs, who bounded back for a 7-4 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference win on Friday.

Grossmont swept the three games from Mesa this week to keeps its tight hold of first place in the conference over pace-challenging Palomar.

For all the success the Griffs have had over the past five weeks, Grossmont still trailed early in all three games against the Olympians.

The Griffins’ TREVOR BEARD doubled down the right field line for the eventual go-ahead runs in the top of the eighth inning to make it 6-4 and complete the comeback.

Grossmont’s JUSTIN BURKEY went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while ROBERT BOSTEDT had a pair of hits for the Griffins, giving them their own set of killer B’s on this afternoon.

After Griffs’ starter DONAVON MCCRYSTAL (6-1) was touched up by Mesa for the early lead, the Griffins got a run in the third on a single by REECE HERNANDEZ, which scored Beard.

Grossmont added two in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by ERIC DE LA ROSA, which brought home Bostedt, and a RBI single from MICHAEL DIFFLEY that plated Burkey.

JAVIER DE LA TORRE earned his third save of the season with two perfect innings, striking out three.

De La Torre, a sophomore right-hander out of Mar Vista High, has a 1.89 ERA in 13 appearances this season.

Grossmont (14-1 PCAC, 19-6-1) holds a 1 1/2-game lead over the second place Comets, although both teams have just one loss.

The Griffins have won four straight and 16 of their last 18, including one tie.

Mesa, an early contender in the conference chase, has fallen to 7-5 in conference and 12-14 overall.

Grossmont College vs San Diego Mesa
@ San Diego | Mesa College

3/31/2017 at 2:00pm

Grossmont
7

San Diego Mesa
4

FINAL	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Grossmont (19-6-1, 14-1)	0	0	1	0	0	2	1	3	0	7	11	2
San Diego Mesa (12-14, 7-5)	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	7	4

HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB
Grossmont
David Maldonado cf	5	0	2	0	0	1	1
Reece Hernandez 2b	5	0	1	1	0	0	1
Noah Strohl 1b	5	0	0	0	0	2	3
Robert Bostedt lf	4	1	2	0	0	0	0
Justen Burkey 3b	4	2	3	0	1	0	0
Eric De la Rosa dh	2	0	0	1	0	1	0
Sean Crosby dh	1	1	0	0	0	0	2
Michael Diffley ss	4	0	1	1	0	1	1
Trevor Beard c	3	2	1	2	1	0	0
Cabot Van Til rf	3	1	1	0	1	0	0
Donavon McCrystal p	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Javier De la Torre p	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	36	7	11	5	3	5	8
BATTING
2B: Justen Burkey; Trevor Beard RBI: Reece Hernandez; Eric De la Rosa; Michael Diffley; Trevor Beard 2 Sac fly: Eric De la Rosa
BASERUNNING
SB: Cabot Van Til CS: David Maldonado; Justen Burkey
FIELDING
E: Michael Diffley 2 DP: Noah Strohl; Michael Diffley

HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB
San Diego Mesa
Andres Velasco cf	4	1	1	0	0	1	1
Zack Mann ss	4	0	1	0	0	0	0
Kevin Bristow 3b	4	1	1	0	0	1	0
Grant Ruthenberg rf	4	1	1	0	0	1	0
Will Law 1b	3	0	0	1	0	1	1
Conner Trippet dh	4	1	1	2	0	1	1
Lewis Butler 2b	4	0	2	1	0	0	0
Jacob Odenkirk lf	3	0	0	0	0	1	1
Sloan Blanscet lf	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
Jonathon Soto c	3	0	0	0	0	1	0
Erick Lopez p	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sean Robinson p	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Anthony Sardo p	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	34	4	7	4	0	8	4
BATTING
2B: Conner Trippet RBI: Will Law; Conner Trippet 2; Lewis Butler Sac fly: Will Law
BASERUNNING
SB: Lewis Butler
FIELDING
E: Zack Mann; Lewis Butler; Jacob Odenkirk; Jonathon Soto

PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
Grossmont
Donavon McCrystal (W, 6-1)	7.0	7	4	4	0	5	0
Javier De la Torre (Sv, 3)	2.0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Totals	9.0	7	4	4	0	8	0
PITCHING
Batters Faced: Donavon McCrystal 29; Javier De la Torre 6

PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
San Diego Mesa
Erick Lopez	3.0	3	1	1	1	2	0
Sean Robinson	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Anthony Sardo (L, 1-2)	5.0	7	6	4	2	3	0
Totals	9.0	11	7	5	3	5	0
PITCHING
Batters Faced: Erick Lopez 12; Sean Robinson 4; Anthony Sardo 26 HBP: Anthony Sardo 2