Hawks open season with real home(s)

KEARNY MESA —- San Diego Christian College center fielder Ryan Lystland registered a career-best seven RBI, as the Hawks experienced something for the first time since early in the 2020 season: a home game.

The road warrior Hawks, which saw their home field at Morley Field in Balboa Park closed by the City of San Diego to all activities due to the pandemic to force the college to play all 43 ballgames on the road in ’21, enjoyed their debut weekend at a new facility.

Behind Lystlund’s 3-for-3 performance — featuring a grand slam in the fourth inning — by the senior from Las Vegas, San Diego Christian welcomed their debut at Mesa College — the Hawks will split time between Mesa and Morley — gaining a victory in their second ballgame be downing Ember-Riddle Aeronautical (Ariz.), 16-6, on Friday (Jan. 21).

The contest marked the Hawks’ first at home since Feb. 29, 2020 — a 10-6, 2-1 doubleheader sweep over Park University – Gilbert (Ariz.) — when the season was vacated at midseason due to COIVD-19.

San Diego Christian registered multiple-run rallies over each of the first four innings to mount a 15-4 advantage. The score could’ve been greater as the Hawks stranded nine baserunners in the run-rule, 7-run contest.

The early lead saw multiple run-scoring singles by Symon Tabello, Cade Cabral, Aaron Hoch, Alec Arcone, and Lystlund in the second for a 7-4 advantage to grab the lead for keeps.

Cabral, a sophomore shortstop, later added a two-run double in the third, then Lystland hammered a 1-1 pitch over the barriers in center field for his grand slam in the fourth.

Sophomore starting pitcher Jacob Kokeny (Monte Vista HS) allowed just one earned run over the first four innings to gain the triumph. Anthony Chiaramonte gained a save with three solid innings from out of the bullpen.

The Hawks (1-3) later dropped a Saturday twin bill to ERAU, 9-3 and 10-4. They return to action this week with five games at the Calderon Invitational in Gilbert, Ariz., then head to the Islands for a five-game series against host Hawai’i-Hilo