LAS FLORES – The Dana Hills baseball team beat No. 7 Tesoro, 4-1, Friday in a South Coast League opener at Tesoro High.
The Dolphins (4-2, 1-0) had their ace Hans Crouse on the mound. The junior entered the game without allowing an earned run all season. Crouse had his fastball working early, going through the first two innings against the Titans (4-2, 0-1) with little trouble.
In the third inning, he allowed a two-out walk to Jake Loy. Crouse showed discomfort on the mound and Coach Tom Faris checked on his pitcher. Crouse was pitching with a blister on his throwing hand, but remained in the game.
After a stolen base by Loy, Spencer Krejci popped up to shallow left field. The ball dropped between three Dolphins players to give Crouse his first earned run of the season.
Dana Hills answered back in the ensuing inning. Tesoro starting pitcher Spencer Heinsius hit Jeremy Ciolek with a pitch. Cameron Crugnale pinch hit for Crause and hit an RBI double to give the Dolphins a 2-1 lead. On the next pitch, Joe DeBaca hit a two-run home run to put Dana Hills ahead, 4-1.
“After his first at-bat, I figured they were going to give him soft pitches,” Farris said of DeBaca. “He saw a changeup and had a plan and hit the ball hard.”
Kayl Cota replaced Crouse on the mound in the fourth inning. The lefty pitched four shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out three.
“Kayl pitched really well Tuesday, and I pulled him out early in case we needed him today,” Faris said. “He has a really good curveball and great command of his pitches. He’s special.”
With the start of league, Faris said his players know they must play their best in every game.
“We have to play better defense and put the ball in play a little bit more to win games in this league,” Faris said.
