Longest season ends in Hawks victory

ECS staff report

LINCOLN —- San Diego Christian College posted its biggest offensive display of the season posting 28 runs and 29 hits to gain a doubleheader split with host William Jessup University in Sunday’s (May 2) Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader.

The Hawks rallied from a major deficit to get even at 11-all in Game One but yielded nine unanswered runs in a 20-11 setback to the Warriors. However, Game Two saw SDCC post innings of six and seven runs to whack the Warriors, 17-5, at McBean Park.  BOXSCORE

The victory snapped the Hawks’ 5-game losing streak against a WJU ballclub that was coming off an upset of 8th-ranked Hope International.

Talk about going from highs to lows.

San Diego Christian, after rallying from deficits of 3-0 and 11-8 to move even in the opener, knew they could swing the bats, but could the pitching hold up in the nightcap.

A pair of freshman proved they could.

Starting pitcher Pablo Small allowed just three runs in four innings to gain his first victory in eight decisions. Keegan Wright followed with three frames of relief which featured six strikeouts to garner the save.

Of course, consecutive, first-inning home runs by Johnny Radomskiy and Thomas Reindl aided the confidence of the young hurlers. Both were solo shots to left field.

An inning later, right fielder Joseph Canty pounded a 3-run shot for an 8-0 cushion.

Then in the fifth, Radomskiy went deep for a second time — another 3-run shot to cap a four-RBI outing — to push the margin to 15-3. Canty and Billy Strohm (Temecula-Linfield Christian) each finished with three RBI.

In addition, senior catcher Josh LaMonte batted 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and driving in a run. He entered the contest with just three hits in 17 previous appearances.

San Diego Christian (4-37 overall, 1-29 GSAC) completes the season with another doubleheader with William Jessup(22-22, 13-17 GSAC), which must sweep in order to finish above .500 for the season.

ECS staff report

LINCOLN —- San Diego Christian College remained at home plate for more than a half-hour ito produce eight first-inning runs in Monday’s (May 3) season-ending doubleheader against William Jessup University.

The ensuing six hours did not go so well.

The host Warriors battled back to grab a 9-8 lead through three innings, eventually tallying 17 straight run to take the opener, 18-10, of a Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader at McBean Field.

WJU also took the nightcap, 13-2, to finish the regular season on a 31-3 scoring run.

Still, the Hawks traveled to Northern California and did their job: prevent William Jessup from finishing above .500 in GSAC play, while almost preventing the Warriors (24-22, 15-17 GSAC) from finishing above the 50-50 plateau overall.

In a season that achieved just four victories, San Diego Christian (4-39, 1-31 GSAC) can take some comfort on taking a game from an opponent which was coming off its own fine achievement in defeating Hope International, which is ranked No. 8 in the nation among NAIA schools.

Talk about a slippery slide to the finish line for the Warriors.

Hawks head coach Brian Schroeder utilized a variety of seniors capping their collegiate careers along with freshmen who figure to become the ballclub’s future stars. The mix found six players driving in runs in the first inning, ignited by a 2-run single by Johnny Radomskiy.

Joseph Canty capped the Hawks scoring with a solo home run in the ninth, his club-leading seventh of the season.

However, Jordan Yu would smack two home runs, part of a school-record nine long-balls in the contest. The previous mark was six, set twice this season, including Game Two of Sunday’s twin bill — a pair of Christian schools played on Orthodox Easter Sunday?

For San Diego Christian, Jalani Brown finished as the batting champion (.388), while Canty was the power-hitting titlist in both homers and doubles (10), plus total base hits (30). Brown was also second in stolen bases (6), behind the seven by Radomskiy. FINAL STATISTICS