The La Jolla High School baseball team is gearing up for a battle against rival La Jolla Country Day. The two squads square off at LJCD tomorrow, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. under the lights. Part of the added intrigue to this year’s battle for La Jolla bragging rights comes from a strong start on the part of LJCD. The Torreys have bolted out of the gates, blazing through the early portion of their season with an 11-3 record, including capturing the Lions Tournament 3A Division Championship. Torreys head coach John Edman is trying to take a diplomatic approach to the contest against La Jolla. Edman doesn’t want his boys getting ahead of themselves, but even he can’t help but crack open a smile thinking about the big match-up. “They’re a very good team and their coach is a great guy,” Edman said. “We’re going to play it like any other game. It is exciting to have a crosstown game,” he said. A key to LJCD’s hot start has been its solid pitching staff. The Torreys have three capable starting pitchers this season — seniors Jason Gilberg, Mac Anderson and Keith Gordon along with sophomore slinger Ian Lutz. “I got taller and stronger and have been approaching the game a little differently,” Gordon said of his newfound success. “My windup up is a bit different and I’ve worked on my move (to first base).” Gilberg and Gordon are both lefties, which helps keep opposing teams off balance at the plate and on the bases. Having two seniors as their top starting pitchers has also added crucial leadership to a relatively young team. “For guys who have been here, done it, and know what to expect, we have to set the example for the younger guys,” Gilberg said. “You have to help them develop like the older players did for us.” The pitchers have done an excellent job of keeping LJCD close in tight games, but the team’s consistent batting has ultimately led to many of its victories. The Torreys have a well-balanced lineup that Edman has tinkered with to produce a lethal combination. One key to the team’s run production has been the top of the lineup getting on base. At the leadoff spot, freshman shortstop Tommy Edman is batting well over .400 and currently leads the team in steals and runs scored. Batting in the two-hole is Gilberg, who ranks second on the squad with a .457 average and is second on the team with five steals. “Tommy leads off and pretty much every time he’s on first base,” Gilberg said. “He finds a way to get on all the time and we try to wreak havoc on the bases.” With the top of the order getting on base so frequently, the middle of the lineup has had plenty of opportunities to produce, and it has done just that. Junior catcher Anthony Torres leads LJCD in home runs with three and has 13 RBIs to go along with his .436 batting average. Sophomore second baseman Sam Ayala is hitting at a .474 clip, has 11 RBIs and a team-leading five doubles. The fearsome lineup just keeps on rolling as junior center fielder Frank Brown brings his .432 average to the plate with 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored. Rounding out the meat of the order is freshman right fielder Dustin Hughes who boasts a team-high 22 RBIs and three long balls. With the heart of the schedule still to come, nothing is guaranteed. However, such a great start has the Torreys thinking there is no limit to what they can accomplish. “We want to gain a conference title and win CIF,” senior third baseman Connor Gerhart said.