The Hornets struck first in the top of the first as they sent all nine batters to the plate, scoring five runs on six hits and putting Desert in the hole early. Fullerton would add another run in the top of the third to chase Roadrunners starting pitcher, freshman right handed pitcher Flavio Mendoza (La Quinta H.S.), who was pitching in his first game of the season.

Desert would start to climb back into this game in the bottom of the third as sophomore left fielder Jason Nall (Playa del Rey St. Bernard) led off the inning with a triple to center followed by a walk from sophomore center fielder Travis Tanaka (Honolulu (HI) St. Louis). Nall would dart home on a sacrifice fly to center field by freshman third baseman Nicholas Follett (Toronto (ON) Bishop Allen Academy), to get Desert to within five, 6-1.

The Hornets would get two more runs in the top of the fourth, but Desert would not go away, as they also scored two runs in the inning. Freshman center fielder Joseph Thibodeaux (Palm Desert H.S.) led off the inning with single to right and a pop out and a ground out, moved Thibodeaux to second base. After back-to-back walks, by Nall and Tanaka, loaded the bases, a two base throwing error by the Hornets second baseman scored Thibodeaux and Nall to hold Fullerton at a five run lead, 8-3.

Fullerton would add their final run of the game in the top of the fifth as they scored to make the game 9-3. Desert would get back onto the board in the bottom of the sixth as freshman second baseman Frank Silva (La Quinta H.S.) led off the inning with a single to center and a walk by freshman short stop Allan Dong (Honolulu (HI) Kalani), the Roadrunners had first and second base filled with no outs. After a strike out, Silva stole third base and then Tanaka hit into a fielder's choice which scored Silva from third base, making the score, 9-4.

Desert would add another run to the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh as freshman designated hitter Jerred Soriano (Honolulu (HI) Moanalua) grabbed a leadoff walk and was replaced at first base by freshman pinch runner Tre'von Williams (Detroit (MI) Consortium College Prep). Then freshman first baseman Quinton Bidon (Enumclaw, WA) clobbered a double to left field scoring a hustling Williams  from first, to make the score 9-5.

Sophomore right fielder Trenton Covel (Palm Desert Xavier Prep) went 2 for 5 and Nall went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored on the night. 

Photo by Britney Vargas (COD Sports Information)
Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.