BASEBALL PROVES THEY’RE NOT JUST PLAYING FOR FUN

By Stephen Janes

            It’s that time of year again.  Time for players to dig out their gloves so they can play catch with their fathers.  Time to spend twenty dollars in tokens at the Batting Cages to polish their swing.  That’s right, its time for baseball; the game with sticks, gloves, and balls. 

            The 2004 El Segundo Varsity team is led by Head Coach Stevenson, entering his 45th season as a coach for El Segundo.  Stevenson looks to increase his high school record of 928 victories.  Coach Stevenson thinks highly of his team this year.  “Predictions…I never make them.  That’s why we play the game.”

            This year’s team looks promising.  With twelve players returning, this is a very talented and experienced team.  “Chris Ornelos and Matt Engle were both team leaders and two of our best offensive players.  Kyle Harrop and Matt Robinson carried a big load for our pitching staff.  You always miss guys of this caliber.  The strong point of our team should be experience because we have twelve seniors on our squad.”

            After losing the first game to Burroughs 4-7, El Segundo fared better in their second game as they faced Oak Park.  Jeff McKinley was on close watch in his pitch count, but more on that later.  McKinley went four strong innings, beginning the game by striking out the side.  Duarte came in relief and shut down Oak Park, recording the save for the Eagles. 

Dave Braunecker was the offense this game, providing two Runs Batted In for the Eagles.  In the first inning, Braunecker scored Robi Estrada with a sacrifice fly ball to left field.  Later, in the sixth inning, Braunecker belted one high and deep over the 340 foot marker at Stevenson Field. 

Coming off a victory, El Segundo faced Bell Gardens three days later.  Bell Gardens quickly jumped to a one run lead in the first inning, but Estrada crossed the plate to tie it up in the bottom half of the inning.  Derrick Duarte would also score in the next inning to put El Segundo ahead 2-1.

After that, the game was blown wide open.  Three runs would be scored in the third and fourth innings.  After back to back singles by Sean McNally and Estrada, Tyson Hawley brought them both in with a double.  Pat Shrum would then sacrifice Hawley in to score.

After Matt Cano was hit by a pitch, McNally followed with a walk and Estrada scored Cano with a single.  Duarte then cleared the bases with a two RBI single, moving El Segundo to a comfortable 8-1 lead.

In the fifth and sixth innings, Bell Gardens scored three more runs, making it an 8-4 ballgame.  Bryan Yatabe came off the bench and led the inning off with a base hit.  Brad Franks then got on by base on balls.  The next pitch was sent 330 feet over the right-center field fence by Shrum, getting three RBI’s, a run, and his first dinger of the year.  Estrada also added an RBI with a double, scoring McNally who reached on an error. 

In the 12-4 victory, Luis Zetino picked up the win.  He threw five solid innings, only giving up three runs, two walks, and striking out five batters.  Duarte finished the game off, but did not pick up the save because the score was too high.  Duarte, in his two innings of relief, struck out a batter and only gave up one hit.

McKinley suffered a serious arm injury on his right arm last season.  It was so serious, he sat the whole season.  This year, he is feeling much better and is hoping that he can become fully healed once more.  The coaching staff isn’t taking any chances, as he will be closely watched by his pitch count for a while.  “It’s pretty good.  I’m feeling good, and I’m hoping that I will be able to pitch a full game this year.”

The Eagles continued their winning ways by demolishing Palos Verdes 14-2.  Austin Meick threw five innings while striking out eight batters.  Shrum went 3-3 with three RBI’s and two runs scored.  Duarte went 2-4 with three RBI’s and a run scored.  This victory moved the Eagles into the semi-final round of their own tournament.