MISSING SOMETHING: The ball sits next to the leg of University catcher Tyler Krobetzky as La Quinta's Taylor Wilson scores during Thursday's playoff game. La Quinta rallied to win the game, 7-6. MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER |
La Quinta stages wild rally to defeat University, 7-6
|
Check out the Aztecs' comeback, Thursday's scores and updated pairings.
WESTMINSTER They had won so much this year, and seen nothing but success at La Quinta since they were born that it seemed Mel Baty's players didn't understand how much trouble they were in.
“What they don't know, I'm not going to tell them,” Baty said with a laugh, of his team spotting University a five-run lead in Thursday's first-round CIF-SS DivisionIII baseball playoff game.
One thing the Aztecs thought they knew: the deficit would not get much larger, as ace sophomore Michael Hill took the mound in relief.
Still, La Quinta needed to score. And to that end, University proved most helpful.
As Hill tossed four shutout innings, the Aztecs scored three runs in the fourth and three more in the sixth, aided by the last three of University's five errors. Trojans pitchers did not allow an earned run, but La Quinta won, 7-6, advancing to the second round.
“We can't stop here,” said Hill, whose sixth-inning, bases-loaded single scored three runs. The last two crossed with the help of an error.
“Everyone was saying before the year that we wouldn't win league again,” said Hill, who played a limited role last season. “Now, we have to win more than one playoff game.”
The Aztecs captured a state-record 16th consecutive league title in 2008, taking the Garden Grove championship. Baty, who coached the previous 15 seasons under Dave Demarest, inherited only one starter for his first year running the program.
“The one thing you do with inexperience is just play,” Baty said. “I'm very proud to see a sophomore (Hill) clutch up like that today.”
University, which started the season 1-7, found itself playing for the Pacific Coast League title last week. But the Trojans blew leads in consecutive games against Laguna Hills and dropped to third place.
“That's the way it's been,” Coach Chris Conlin said.
>> See more stats from the game
Contact the writer: jkay@ocregister.com
We want our site to be a place where people discuss and debate ideas that foster stronger communities. We built this for you. Please take care of it. Tolerate broad thinking, but take action against obscene or hateful material. Make it a credible and safe place worth preserving and sharing.
