Redondo’s baseball team is preparing to make its run for the Bay League crown but it certainly won’t come easy.
The Sea Hawks (19-5, 4-0) are ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 poll behind San Dimas but must travel to take on a young, talented Peninsula team Wednesday before hosting the Panthers Friday in a 6 p.m. contest.
Peninsula and Palos Verdes entered the week tied for second place with 3-1 records, one game behind Redondo.
“Bay League play is always tough no matter how many wins a team has coming in,” Redondo head coach Jeff Baumback said. “Every game at this point is a playoff type game and we are just focused on taking it one game at time. We have six Bay League games remaining and each will treated as a must win. We have a great rivalry with Penn, PV and Costa. Each game is as important as the next.”
On Saturday, Redondo will host Millikan in the championship game of the 46th Annual Redondo Tournament at 6 p.m.
“Reaching our tournament championship game is very important. The field is very strong and it’s been a goal of ours to reach the final and win all year,” Baumback said. “We are excited for the opportunity to play a championship game. It’s great preparation for the stretch run through the Bay League and the upcoming playoffs. Millikan is a very good club, we played them a few weeks ago during our spring break tournament ( 3-1 Redondo win) and know how tough they are. It’s an exciting challenge.”
Redondo defeated Camarillo 6-2 in the semifinals last Saturday. Senior third baseman Brady Dorn was 2 for 2 with two walks and two runs scored and Jason Dicochea was 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored.
Sophomore pitcher Danny Zimmerman threw five innings while quelling possible big innings.
Redondo’s bat are hot led by Cooper Gallion (.400, 36 RBI, 15 doubles, 3 hone runs) and Dorn (.418, 23 RBI).
The Sea Hawks pitching staff is deep with Gallion (4-1, 1.40 ERA), Dicochea (4-1, 3.12 ERA) and Zimmerman (3-1, 1.31 ERA) who has 27 strikeouts in 32 innings.
Redondo returns to Bay League action Wednesday, May 6 with a 5:30 p.m. home game against Palos Verdes. The Sea Hawks will travel up the hill to take on the Sea Kings on Friday, May 8 before playing rival Mira Costa (No. 9 in Division 3) in a home-and-away series in the final week of the regular season.
