Pointer baseball, softball teams finding the winning formula

The springtime sound of balls hit by bats is back as Point Loma High’s baseball and softball teams play through their early non-league games. Both teams were sporting identical 4-3 won-loss records earlier this week.

BASEBALL

After a slow start, Jeff Solis’ team has won three straight with a team overall batting average of .280. Leading the pack are outfielders Kian Barker (.417), Jordan Otjen (.400), and infielder Ruben Guzman (.385).

Otjen’s 18 hits are tops with five players tied with one double each, three tied with one triple each, and home runs by Otjen Barker and Ely Montgomery.

The team has shown good plate discipline with 22 walks against 34 strikeouts.

The team’s biggest win to date was an 11-0 shutout of CCA with the team cranking 11 hits, five for extra bases, and a .367 team average for the game.

Pitcher Johnny Nuanez has a perfect .000 earned run average over 11 innings, walking just three while fanning 15. Opponents are hitting just .111 off the right handler while the staff’s earned run average is at 3.24.

Second baseman Tobin Orzel eyes the ball on a close play as the Pointers battle through a non-league and tournament schedule preparing for league games next month. SCOTT HOPKINS/PENINSULA BEACON

The Pointers will be involved in tournament play for the next three weeks with home games March 31 (Classical Academy of Escondido), April 4 (Elk Grove), and April 5 versus Narbonne High (Harbor City). An away game will be played April 3 at Eastlake. A non-league home game against Coronado is set for April 12.

SOFTBALL

The Pointer softball program is headquartered at the Correia Sports Complex on Famosa Boulevard. Billy Hunyady’s girls are also hitting for average with infielder Nanako Schroth (.400) and freshman Avery McPherson following at .333.

Rylee LaRocco leads the team with seven hits while Nanako Schroth has six. Nanako Schroth’s seven RBI’s are tops with Aaliyah Brown close behind with five. Annika Isaacson’s three doubles are team highs while freshman Ryoko Schroth has a pair. Brown and Megan O’Donnell each have hit a triple in non-league play.

On the mound, Ryoko Schroth has 27 strikeouts, the second-highest to date in the City Conference. Isaacson has an outstanding 0.95 earned run average with the overall team’s ERA at 2.37. McPherson has a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000.

The girls will be at home for upcoming non-league games against El Capitan (April 3) and University City (April 10) with away games at Ramona (April 1) and Clairemont (April 6). League play begins April 12 when the Pointers host La Jolla.

Both of these sports offer free admission and the excitement of young athletes striving to play at their top level.