Christian survives Wild West Shootout

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 11, 2024

UPDATED… 2024 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL

Compiled by Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

Christian 6, Cathedral Catholic 3

CARMEL HIGHLANDS — In one of the most dramatic at-bats of the season, Christian High catcher Xavier Farnum come out on topto give the Patriots a stunning victory over a Top 10 program in CathedralCatholic, 6-3, Wednesday (Apr. 10) at Manchester Field.

Moments after the host Dons pulled even with a run in the sixth inning, Christian parlayed two singles around a walk for a run, then Farnum made his back-breaking trip to the plate, facing nine total pitches to a battle with Dons pitching.

Farrnum foued off three deliveries, took a pitch for a ball, then touched four more pitches in keeping the count at 1-and-2 with a total of seven foul balls.

However, Farnum (2-for-4) send Pitch No. 9 over the fence in left field for a 6-3 lead. The blow was enoigh to upset Dons pitching, which allowed two additional hits in the seventh, allowing Christian even the Western League series at 1-1.

The decision left both ballclubs, plus Point Loma and Madison into a four-way deadlock for second place, one full game behind front-running St Augustine, which dropped Patreick Henry for the second straight outing.

Farnum, a four-year varsity performer who has played second fiddle behind other Christian standouts for three seasons, may finally be gaining recogniation as multi-use player.

Along with catching, Farnum can also play second base, while his sped always hime to bat near the top of the Patriots batting order. When hitting first, he can reach base and steal bases, or in the case of this contstsm he was able to bat third and display his power.

Following Farnum’s third homer of the season (sixth career), first baseman Johnny Rocco rocked a booming double to left.

Kim, the starting second baseman and went to pitch inthe seventh to garner the save, also finihsed with two hits and scored twice.

Western League

St. Augustine 7, Patrick Henry 2

KEARNY MESA – One thing is for certain: when you drop the frst game in each week’s series against another Western League rival, one better wins or your entire season could quickly be on the line.

Patrick Henry, once holding a record of 15-3 anchored by a 9-game win streak in the middle, found out the hard way on Wednesday (Apr. 9.
).
Playing at the antiquated yard known as Hickman Field — the location behind the mobile home park — the Patriots collected more errors than basehits in falling to host St. Augustine, 7-2, losing the first game of the series.

The ballclubs were even at 2-all after three innings, but Saints pitching yielded just one hit over the finsal four frames in tossing a 4-hitter. Meanwhile, the Pats defense fell apart with a season-poorest five mishandlings of the baseball.

Henry received an RBI single from Preston Conklin and a run on a Saints error for a 2-0 lead. However, the Saints immediately tied the contest en route to seven unanswered runs to move into first plsce in the first week of league competition.

Scoring for the Pats were sophomore Alex Mestman, who registered of of Henry’s four hits (all singles), and Cody Cappelletti.

Point Loma 8, Madison 8, tie

CLAIREMONT MESA 0 The Point Loma Pointers tallied three times in the sixth inning to mount an 8-0 cushion, but the Madison Warhawks woke up in time to register eight runs in the sixth inning to tie before the sun set to leave the ballclubs in a unsatisfying draw in the teams’ Western League opener in a 7-inning, 3.5-hour marathon.

Standings: St, Augustine 1-0, Christian 1-1, Cathedral Catholic 1-1, Point Loma 0-0-1, Madison 0-0-1, Patrick Henry 0-1.