COD (2-10) snagged a hard fought double header split with the #3 team in California, the Costa Mesa Orange Coast Pirates (10-1), the Roadrunners stole game one 5-4 and fell in game two 18-1.

Desert got the party started early as they took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman short stop Allan Dong (Honolulu (HI) Kalani) punched out a single to lead off the game and freshman second baseman Jerred Soriano (Honolulu (HI) Moanalua) was hit by a pitch. After a single by freshman third baseman Nicholas Follett (Toronto (ON) Bishop Allen Academy) scored Dong and moved Soriano to third and then freshman designated hitter Julian Gonzalez (Palm Springs H.S.) crushed a bases clearing double and giving the Roadrunners an early 3-0 lead.

Sophomore catcher Travis Tanaka (Honolulu (HI) St. Louis) would lead off the bottom of the third inning with a walk, eventually stealing second and getting to third base on a ground out to the short stop. Once again, Gonzalez would clobber a double, easily scoring Tanaka and giving Desert a commanding 4-0 lead and chasing the Pirates starting pitcher.

Orange Coast was far from done, as they added a run in the top half of the fourth and attempted to spoil the day of Desert starting pitcher freshman right hander Jake Mesa (La Quinta H.S.). The Pirates would hit a two out three-run home run to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, chasing Mesa after an impressive eight strike out performance. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Gonzalez grabbed a one out walk and was lifted for freshman pinch runner Tre'von Williams (Detroit (MI) Consortium College Prep) who immediately stole second and then sophomore pinch hitter Jason Nall (Playa del Rey St. Bernard) won the game, punishing a single to right, scoring Williams.

Game two presented a different result as Desert freshman right handed starting pitcher Blake Garcia (Redlands H.S.) tied the Pirates in knots for two innings, then struggled mightily. Orange Coast would chase across five runs in the third and end Garcia's day. Freshman right handed relief pitcher Hunter Torres (Indio Shadow Hills) tried to stop the bleeding and did so, for an inning and two thirds, then Pirates hit a two RBI single, ending his day on the mound.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Roadrunners would get a run on the board as Tanaka collect a one out walk and saunter home on a single by Follett, to make the score 7-1.

Unfortunately, Orange Coast would add seven more runs in the seventh and four more runs in the ninth.

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