TORREY PINES, CA - In the top of the first inning, Canyon Crest already had runners on second and third base with no outs. Yet, left-handed pitcher Tucker Pike would not allow the Ravens to get on the scoreboard. Pitching a strikeout and yielding two fly balls caught at first base and in right field, Pike helped force the changeover for Torrey Pines.
“In the first inning, they had second and third with nobody out, and [Tucker] worked out of that jam, which was huge,” Torrey Pines pitching coach Chris Possemato said. “If they scored there, the game could’ve been different.”
The Falcons went on to take a tight 3-1 win over the Ravens, their third victory against them this week following scores of 5-4 on Monday and 7-0 on Wednesday.
After the changeover, Mac Bingham started the Falcons off with a double hit deep into right field. Jake Boone walked to first and Robby Schleiser hit a grounder between second and third to load the bases. Bennett McCaskill hit a line drive down the center of the diamond to bump the score up to 2-0.
Despite allowing a run to get by them in top of the fifth, Torrey Pines retaliated with one of their own in the same inning. On two outs and with Boone on third base, McCaskill slammed another drive down the third base line as Boone easily crossed home plate for the final run of the game.
“It started with another outstanding performance on the mound from Tucker Pike,” head coach Kirk McCaskill said. “We got a couple of clutch hits, especially the two-out [hits which are] … always good. So we stayed in it, we battled, and our pitching really shut them down.”
With Pike’s reliable and strong pitching, the Falcon defense behind him delivered the outs the team needed to shut down their opponents. In the top of the second, Boone at shortstop fielded a grounder, quickly tagged a runner and then whipped the ball to Schleiser at first for the double play.
“It’s a challenge to beat any team three times in a week, mostly because of the pitching,” McCaskill said. “But we feel really good about our pitching, and … our pitching has really brought is this far this year.”
According to Possemato, Pike was “fired up” and “wanted to win” because of the Senior Day special occasion.
“We have a lot of seniors, and a lot of them played last year so they got a lot of experience, and they’re really contributing,” Possemato said. “That leadership and their experience and their composure and poise is a big part of why we won so many games.”
With their victory today, Torrey Pines looks to face rival La Costa Canyon next week for the third time of their season. The past two games have gone once to each team, but this time, the stakes are higher: the league title.
“We set a mini goal that we wanted to get to that game [against La Costa Canyon] to try to have a chance to win the conference, so we got there,” McCaskill said. “I’m really proud of the boys. It’ll be very fun; it’s very intense because it’s a rivalry school, but we look forward to it.”
Next Wednesday’s game against the Mavericks may play a part in determining the Falcons’ draw for CIF playoffs. Canyon Crest will take on rival San Dieguito next Wednesday as well.
