After failing to score in the top of the seventh inning with the score tied 2-2, the visiting team Point Loma Pointers were trying to hold Granite Hills scoreless and send last Saturday’s (June 19) CIF Div. I championship games to extra innings.
But after a one-out single, Pointer throwing error and fielder’s choice the Eagles found themselves in a good position: a runner at third with one out.
The next hitter sent a first-pitch fly ball to short center field with Pointer Kien Vu racing in to attempt a catch. But when the ball fell to the natural grass surface, the Eagle runner sprinted home as their dugout erupted in celebration.
The walk-off loss prevented the Pointers from winning their first CIF baseball crown since the 1982 team that featured a pitcher named David Wells, complemented by top athlete David Camara. Both coached the Pointers in recent years before Wells left following the 2018 season.
The loss left the Pointers with an overall record of 20-13 and they automatically qualified for the upcoming regional state tournament. They will travel to Riverside to play Arlington High School at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 22.
“This year’s team is the best we’ve had in a long time,” Corbin Chianello said after players finished a postgame meeting. “The coaches kept telling us we needed to change the culture (of PLHS baseball) and I believe we did. With the community’s support, the seniors will pass it down to the juniors and sophomores and they’ll thrive.”
The Pointers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard Saturday when a bomb hit by Chianello went over the heads of Eagle outfielders and hit the fence in left field. Vu raced home with the first run before Duke Ekstrom roped a solid single up the middle to bring Chianello home.
Several other scoring opportunities for the Dogs failed while the Eagles caught up with single runs in the second and fifth innings. For the game, Pointer pitchers Ekstrom (five innings) and Blake Ledbetter (two innings) gave up seven hits, all singles. They walked five and struck out seven.
“We did our best attempting to beat them,” Chianello said. “It happens to the best of us. It’s over now and we can’t do anything about it but look forward”
Chianello recently wore a U.S. Navy drape over his graduation gown and will be entering basic training within the next month.
For head coach Jeff Solis, his three-year varsity record moved to 30-20-2 including 24 wins in 2019, his first season. When added to his JV record over four years (86-18) his winning percentage jumps to .753. His teams have never failed to win at least 20 games.
Graduating seniors besides Chianello and Ledbetter include Duce Gourson, Liam Watters, Nolan Crim, Matt Nuanez and Hunter Hargett.
Returning juniors include Vu, Chance Kreuger, Jet Taylor, Diego Mansur, Brevin Taft, Ayden Rygiel, Cole Madden, Marco Lopez, Drew Brawner, Lorenzo Sardo and Bubba Nunez.
Sophomores who earned varsity spots this year include Ekstrom, David Miramontes, Jordan Otjen, Nick Garcia and Jarrett Judd.
PHOTO BY SCOTT HOPKINS
