ELAC Baseball Handles El Camino with 5-3 Win

TORRANCE, CA — With a possible playoff berth at stake for both teams, the East Los Angeles College baseball team won 5-3 at El Camino College in a showdown of ranked teams.

The Huskies had five timely hits adding to their total of 55 in eight games during the month of April. ELAC took advantage of two El Camino errors and the Husky defense was spot on in the win.

Both teams are ranked in the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association South Poll. No 14 ELAC improves to 21-15 overall and 11-7 in the South Coast Conference North Division. ELAC remains tied for second place in the SCC North with Chaffey College (17-19, 11-7) who won 10-6 over Pasadena City College (18-17, 9-8) today. El Camino (21-15, 10-8, SCC South) remains in second in the SCC South.

The series ends on Thursday night at ELAC in a must win situation for both teams. Game time is set for 6 p.m. If the Huskies win, it will be their first series win against the Warriors since 2014.

The Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Sophomore short stop Matthew Sosa (Whittier HS) walked then stole second base. Freshman second baseman Grant Victor (St. Francis HS) singled through the left side. After two outs Victor stole second base and freshman designated hitter Elija Martinez (La Serna HS) walked. An El Camino error scored two Husky runs unearned.

ELAC added a run in the second on a single from a Victor (RBI) and a run in the third on hits from Zech Jarrard (Temple City HS) and Martinez. ELAC led 4-0. El Camino added a run in the third.

In the sixth, ELAC scored two runs. Sosa reached first on an error and stole second base. It was his 17th stolen base of the season, the 12th best mark in the state. Victor singled up the middle and freshman first baseman Bryan Duenas (Warren HS) flied out to right field (sacrifice fly, RBI) and ELAC led 5-1. El Camino, who had nine hits, scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning on three hits. Cody Wissler singled through the right side, Jose Ruiz Jr. doubled to left center (RBI) and Jerry Granillo singled to left field (RBI).

DAWG TRACKS

Starting freshman pitcher Paul Kosanovich (Temple City HS) went 7.0 innings, struck out six and improved to 5-3. In 1.1 innings of relief work, freshman pitcher Josh Jorgensen (Lakewood HS) struck out three for the Huskies.

Freshman pitcher Luis Ramos (Venice HS) was brought in with an out in the ninth and struck out Warriors Diego Alarcon and Jordan Folgers, both swinging.

Victor led the Husky bats. He singled three times (RBI), Jarrard doubled and Martinez singled.

UP NEXT

The Huskies have their first weekend off in the month of April followed by a regular-season ending three-game series with SCC North leading Mt. San Antonio College (25-9, 13-3) whose magic number is one. The Huskies host Mt. SAC next Thursday, April 26 at 6 p.m. in their regular season home-game finale.

Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index or on Facebook at ELAC Huskies Athletics (@elachuskiesathletics).   

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia