KNIGHTS FIGHT HARD AGAINST ACE ON HILL

By David Dickens
Updated: February 23, 2019

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

CALEXICO 2, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 0

By Dave Dickens

EastCountySports.com

CALEXICO (2-22-2019) – After several sheets of heavy rain, ice, and snow, the Foothills Christian Knights hit the road for a long, early season trip.

Of course, coaches and players alike realize the season is very young, and head coach Dave Lewis will have his boys whipped into baseball shape in just a few games.

A great example is that of the 14-1 win just two days ago, and boy, the bats hot.

Long road trips typically favor the home squad, this afternoon that was just a minute factor.

Most baseball experts would refer to this type of outing as a pitcher’s duel.

This was not what the Knights were forecasting at the beginning, as CADE CABRAL was able to hit solidly in his first appearance at the dish, to initiate the tempo, but unfortunately, the flames were extinguished quickly to end the first inning.

Both Calexico’s DEREK LOPEZ and Foothills Christian’s SETH GILBODY pitched quite well until Gilbody issued a walk, hit his second man up, and then with two on and two out, Calexico’s JESUS CASTRO hits a sharp grounder to the Knight’s third baseman, TYLER KENNEDY, scoring ANDRE BANUELOS from first, making it 1-0 Calexico.

Foothills would record the next out limiting the damage to only a 1-0 Calexico advantage heading into the bottom of the fourth.

The Knights would strand one runner and no hits in their half, still trailiing 1-0.

In the top of the fifth, the Knights’ BRENDAN CAMPBELL was on the hill.

This would be the last of either team scoring. Campbell battled, however, he hit Calexico’s ALLEN ARREOLA, who also stole second, then Lopez put down a superb bunt to the pitcher, leaving runners at the corners and no outs.

After a grounder for one out, Calexico’s MARIO GARCIA had a base hit on a liner to right field, but JACK WURTS threw out Lopez at the dish, limiting only Arreola to score, 2-0, Calexico. Campbell would give up another single, leaving it 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Campbell went one inning, allowing three hits, one earned run, a walk, and a strikeout.

Newly elected reliever, and a man of many names, JALANI “HOLLYWOOD SEAWEED” BROWN, came in to close out the sixth and seventh inning, for no runs, one hit, one walk, and even a strikeout to boot. He ended up pitching a shutout for two solid innings.

Seth Gilbody did get handed the loss, however, as he did record 12 outs.

“We lost two great pitchers last year, Bailey Lewis and Trevor Smallwood, so as a senior, I’m dialing in the skill to pitch and learning new pitches to throw,” Brown said.

“My bat today was just not there. The long trip definitely hit us, and you could see it. I felt really good pitching, hitting my spots and throwing the ball well.

“Lopez for Calexico did throw the ball well today and kept us off balance with a good breaking ball and located his fastball well.

“We did hit a few balls hard that were right at defenders, which was
frustrating,” said Cabral.

The Knights will be facing Holtville at Mount Miguel at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

EastCountySports.com