Tourneys help baseball teams prepare for Bay League race
Redondo shortstop Duncan McKinnon was named to the Ryan Lemmon Invitational All-Tournament team. Photo
While most high school students spent last week’s spring break at the beach or on a trip out of town, players on Mira Costa and Redondo’s baseball teams remained at their home away from home – the diamond.
Both squads enjoyed success in their respective tournaments as they prepare to face strong competition in the race for the Bay League title.Redondo (13-5) played in the highly-competitive Ryan Lemmon Invitational in Irvine where the Sea Hawks faced three teams ranked in the LA Times top-25 and finished with a 3-2 record.
Shortstop Duncan McKinnon led the Sea Hawks being selected to the all-tournament team. The Purdue-bound senior is batting .397 this season and is tied for the team lead with 23 hits.
After losing to Mission Viejo 3-0, Redondo defeated Millikan (No. 3, Division 1) in a 3-1 contest. A 5-2 loss to El Modena dropped the Sea Hawks into the Consolation bracket where they beat Brea Olinda 5-1 and Yorba Linda 7-4.
“All losses were competitive but we made costly errors in both losses,” Redondo head coach Jeff Baumback said. “The tournament is great preparation as we head into league play. Connor Riley, a junior pitcher, threw a no hitter against Brea and Danny Zimmerman threw a gem to beat Long Beach Millikan.”
Cooper Gallion has been a dual threat for Redondo this season. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior is batting a team-high .412 with 3 home runs and 32 RBI. On the mound, the right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.58 ERA.
Redondo’s .322 team batting average has also received a boost from Brady Dorn (.371), Marco Valenzuela (.333), Jason Clebowicz (.302, 9 doubles) and Cole Henderson (.300).
Jason Dicochea (4-1, 3.32 ERA) and Danny Zimmerman (2-1, 1.38 ERA) add too a deep pitching staff.
Redondo’s strength of schedule helped move the Sea Hawks up to No. 4 in Division 3 heading into Bay League action this week.
The Sea Hawks play a home-and-away series against Inglewood on Wednesday and Friday with starting times scheduled for 3:15 p.m.
Redondo hosts Santa Monica in a non-league game Saturday at 9 a.m. before playing an away-and-home series against Morningside on Wednesday, Apr. 22 and Friday, Apr. 24.
“Our goal is to win Bay League,” Baumback said. “With six returning starters from last year’s team that made it to the CIF semifinals, expectations are high and anything less than a Bay League championship would be a disappointment.”
Mira Costa ace Trevor Franklin enters Bay League action with a 7-0 record and 1.30 ERA. Photo
Mira Costa (13-5) dominated the Century Baseball Classic/Santa Ana Elks tournament, capturing the championship after an offensive explosion.
The Mustangs outscored opponents 76-5 defeating University 9-0, Costa Mesa 30-1, La Quinta 15-0, Nogales 13-2 and Calvary Chapel 9-2.
In the championship game against Calvary Chapel, Rollie Nichols went 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI, Reese Alexiades went 2 for 2 with 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases and Dylan Tyrer went 2 for 3 with an RBI and one run scored.
Mira Costa is batting .344 as a team this season and is ranked No. 7 in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 poll.
Alexiades is leading the potent Mustang offense with 22 hits, 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 12 stolen bases while batting .355.
Tyrer has rebounded from a football injury to hit .350 and lead with team with 15 RBI. Other top hitters include Ree Houseman (.417), Nichols (.365), Will Proctor (.353), Robert White (.350), Luke Jelmini (.308), Luke McCauley (.303) and Brett Davis (.300).
Trevor Franklin (7-0, 1.30 ERA) and Michael Rumpp (4-2, 0.75 ERA) give the Mustangs a solid one-two punch on the mound as they begin league action this week with a home-and-away series against Palos Verdes on Wednesday and Friday. Games times are slated for 3:15 p.m.