LA HABRA – – Sunny Hills starting pitcher Jeff James only threw one strike in his first 13 pitches to load the bases against La Habra on Friday.
The game was on the edge of getting away from the Lancers before it barely started.
James induced a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the jam and drove in three runs to lead Sunny Hills to a 6-2 Freeway League win at La Habra High.
“That 1-2-3 double play was huge,” Lancers coach Arlie Kearney said. “Jeff really battled through and competed.”
La Habra (5-5, 2-1) was unable to take advantage of early opportunities in the Highlanders’ first loss in league play.
“That’s never going to help you win,” La Habra coach John Sothern said. “You’ve got a team on the ropes early and you can’t do anything to put them away.”
La Habra only scored one run on two bases-loaded situations in the first two innings. Mun Pak scored on an error in the second.
Sunny Hills (5-3, 2-1) had consecutive bases-loaded situations of its own in the third and fourth innings.
However, the Lancers were able to capitalize with a two-run double by James for a 2-1 lead in the third.
“They really did a nice job taking their walks and getting big hits when they had their opportunities,” Kearney said.
James added a third RBI on a single in the fourth. Daniel Kim had two RBI and David Park collected a RBI single.
James overcame control problems in three innings on the mound, allowing one unearned run and one hit along with five walks and four hit batters.
Christian Cano finished the final four innings for the win, allowing one unearned run, two hits and three walks.
