COD (10-25; 8-11) had an early lead, but a pair of three-runs innings and a four run inning put the San Diego Mesa Olympians (13-20; 8-11) in front for good, 11-4.

Freshman third baseman Nicholas Follett (Toronto (ON) Bishop Allen Academy) led the team going 3 for 4 with two runs scored and sophomore right fielder Trenton Covel (Palm Desert Xavier Prep) went 2 for 4 with two runs batted in as both hitters were in the four-five hole.

Freshman right handed starting pitcher Robin Landazuri (Redlands H.S.) collected three strike outs in seven complete innings, surrendering  seven runs, five earned on eleven hits, walking none and was saddled with his seventh loss of the season.

The Roadrunners got onto the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second when Follett led off the inning with a double to left, advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a double by Covel to give Desert a 1-0 lead. 

The Olympians would add three runs in the top half of the fourth and three more in the top half of the sixth, taking a 6-1 lead, before Desert put another run up in the bottom of the seventh. Follett would reach on a single to left field and then freshman catcher Julian Gonzalez (Palm Springs H.S.) clobbered a one out double to left. Follett would score on a fielder's choice by freshman short stop Allan Dong (Honolulu (HI) Kalani) to make the score, 6-2.

Unfortunately, San Diego Mesa would put across four more runs in the top of the eighth, to make the score 10-2.

Freshman second baseman Frank Silva (La Quinta H.S.), hitting out of the nine slot, would lead-off the bottom of the eighth with a booming triple to center. Freshman left fielder Austin Clifton (Romoland Heritage) would hit a one out ground out to the second baseman, scoring Silva from third base. Sophomore center fielder Travis Tanaka (Honolulu (HI) St. Louis) would hit a two out single to center and was immediately followed up by an infield single from Follett. Covel would bring Tanaka home on a single to center and chasing the Olympians starting pitcher.

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