SAN CLEMENTE – Dana Hills coach Brandon Cosenza believes the strength of his team is in its offense, but a tough nonleague schedule has prevented it from surfacing very often.
The Dolphins’ bats broke through early in a 12-6 nonleague win over San Clemente on Tuesday at San Clemente High.
Serafine Parrish hit a pair of home runs and drove in three runs, and Carlee Russo hit a second-inning grand slam as the Dolphins built a 12-0 lead in the fourth inning.
“It was good seeing them swing the bats. It caught me by surprise,” Cosenza said. “Offensively, those two have been hitting all year, and we definitely need them to do that through league.”
Parrish held the Tritons hitless through three innings, but San Clemente (5-5-1) jumped on relief pitcher Carlee Russo in the fourth inning.
A fielder’s choice and singles by Olivia Bradish and Ashley Folia loaded the bases for Melody Forstie, who drove a pitch from Russo over the left-field fence for a grand slam.
In the fifth inning, a two-run double by Elise Sawall cut San Clemente’s deficit to 12-6, but Russo shut down the Tritons over the final two innings.
“This is not a team with superstars carrying it, it’s about the entire team,” Tritons coach Bill Malcolm said. “They’re a scrappy team and when they believe, it’s amazing the things they can do. It’s just trying to get that out of them.”
Jessie Nagel put the Dolphins (8-6) on the board in the first inning with a bases-loaded single. Cozette Zoch followed with a two-RBI double and Russo’s ensuing groundout drove in a run before Parrish’s first home run made it 6-0.
After Russo’s grand slam, Frankie Tago’s RBI single and Parrish’s second home run, a solo shot in the fourth, led to the 12-0 lead.
The Dolphins play nonleague games at No. 3 Mater Dei on Wednesday, at Edison on Thursday, and at No. 5 Pacifica on Friday.
San Clemente battles San Juan Hills on Thurday.
“Last time we were here, they beat us 18-3,” Cosenza said of the Tritons, “so it was good to get a little redemption.”
Contact the writer: npercy@ocregister.com
