COD (2-11) took a run in the bottom of the first and strung out six hits in a non-Conference loss to the Santa Ana Dons (9-1), 6-1. 

Freshman designated hitter Brandt Celli (La Quinta H.S.), hitting out of the nine hole, went 2 for 3 on the day and sophomore center fielder Travis Tanaka (Honolulu (HI) St. Louis) went 1 for 4, scoring the Roadrunners only run of the afternoon. Sophomore right handed relief pitcher John Carlile (Santa Ana Foothill) tossed four innings in relief, shutting down the Dons on three hits, walking two and striking out three.

The afternoon contest started out fantastic for the Roadrunners as freshman right handed starting pitcher Hunter Torres (Indio Shadow Hills) shut down Santa Ana, pitching around a two out walk to shut out the Dons in the top half of the inning. 

Then in the bottom of the first, Tanaka took a two out poke hit to left and freshman third baseman Nicholas Follett (Toronto (ON) Bishop Allen Academy) would grab a walk to move Tanaka to second base. Freshman catcher Julian Gonzalez (Palm Springs H.S.) would clobber a single to right field scoring Tanaka and giving Desert the early 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately, the Dons would add three runs in the third, two more in the fourth, chasing the Roadrunners starter. In the top half of the fifth, sophomore right handed relief pitcher Riley Owen (Tumwater, WA) who stopped the bleeding in the fourth, only surrendered a run in the fifth, but was tagged with his second loss of the season.

The next home game for the Roadrunners is Thursday, February 23rd against the Riverside City Tigers, first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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