Zach Fany scores Fullerton’s first run as CdM catcher Charlie Kaster waits for a throw Saturday. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Fullerton High School’s baseball team jumped out to a a pair of four-run leads Saturday in a wild and entertaining non-league game Saturday against Corona del Mar.
However, the Indians had to survive two comebacks by the Sea Kings before winning 8-7 on a picture-perfect day at CdM.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
Fullerton (5-2-1) scored four runs in the sixth inning and held on for the win, snapping a five game winning streak to start the season by CdM (5-1).
Reliever Evan Terrazas retired CdM in order in the seventh inning to earn the save.
“It’s always great playing Corona del Mar, they’re always a great team,” said Fullerton Coach Shaun Hill. “Kevin (Coach McCaffrey) does a great job with their players. You always know it’s going to be competitive even if we got up 4-0, we knew they were going to bounce back and (make) a game of it so it was nice for us to answer back when they answered back.
“It was a good competitive game and it was nice for us to squeeze one out today.”
First baseman Malachi Meni was 3 for 3 with three RBI and a run scored and shortstop Zach Fany, the leadoff hitter, was 3 for 5 with two runs scored to lead the Fullerton attack. Christian Robinson was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Both players were happy with the final result.
“It was a good team win, we started off hot early and then fell back, but we battled all game, and that’s all we can do,” said Meni. “I’m proud of our guys.”
“I just tried to do all I can and contribute to the dub today,” Fany added. “I know I saw the curveball early in the count (on his first at bat) so I knew he was going to come back with the fastball. When I get those fastballs I don’t get them too much, but when I do, I got to bang them.”
Fullerton broke a 4-4 tie with four runs in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, pinch-hitter Wayne Warden belted a home run to left field. Fany and Mason Park followed with singles. Fany scored on a balk. Miguel Velasquez was intentionally walked and Meni followed with a two-run single..
But in the bottom of the sixth, Gannon Overfelt and Will Chiechi singled and Marc Soloman followed with a three-run home run to cut the Indians lead to 8-7. But Park, who had come on to pitch in relief of starter Declan Fitzgerald, struck out two of the next three batters to keep the Indians lead at one run.
CdM began its comeback with two runs in the third inning on sacrifice flies by Jackson McDonald and Vince Menard. One of the runs was unearned as a result of an error in the outfield.
The Sea Kings then tied it with two runs in the fourth inning. Charlie Kaster drove in Chiechi and Soloman scored from third when Kaster stole second and the throw went wild. Kaster was thrown out trying to go to third.
The Indians starte fast in the first inning. Meni had an RBI single, Caleb Brown had a bases loaded walk to drive in a run and Lukas Delagidillo drove in two runs with a single. Fany started the game off with a single.
McCaffrey, the CdM bounce, liked the comeback by his team.
“I was just excited with the way our kids fought back,” said McCaffrey. “Early in the season, to see us not give in after going down 4-0 in the first inning was pretty exciting for us to watch.”
The home run by Soloman stood out.
“Marc in a big situation, down four, we got the first two guys on, and he came up clutch with a big home run for us, that was a big moment for us, I’m excited for him,” McCaffrey said.
McCaffrey has been pleased with his team’s fast start.
“I’m really excited with how we’ve started,” he said. “Pitching has been really good with Marcello (Anelli) and Stevie Jones, I’m excited this group is coming together, it’s a good group of kids, they’re all playing hard.”
Isaiah Vasquez started on the mound for CdM. After giving up four runs in the first inning, he pitched four scoreless innings before giving way to Will Chavez in the sixth inning.
Chiechi had two hits and scored two runs, Soloman had two hits, three RBI and two runs scored and Kaster had two hits, an RBI and a run scored to lead the CdM offense.
CdM won its fifth in a row Friday, defeating Tesoro 8-0 behind the pitching of Jones. Fullerton was coming off a 4-0 road loss to Mission Viejo Friday.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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