Pacifica starting pitcher Logan Brady (from left) with Chad Gurnea, Jason Juarez and Landyn Thomas. (Photos Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone).
Pacifica High School’s pitching duo of Logan Brady and Chad Gurnea combined to toss a three-hit 2-0 shutout over Fullerton in a non-league baseball game Monday afternoon at Pacifica.
The Mariners improved their record to 7-2 while the Indians fell to 7-2.
Brady pitched five innings, gave up three hits and struck out six, upping his record to 3-0.
“My fastball was moving in and out and I felt my changeup and slider were effective and I was able to attack the hitters,” said Brady, a senior. “We’re playing well right now. We have a deep rotation and our defense is strong.”
The Cal State Fullerton-bound Gurnea said Brady set the table for the Mariners (7-2).
“Logan threw five shutout innings and I wanted to come in and do the exact same thing,” said Gurnea, who came on in the sixth and faced eight batters to earn his fourth save of the season. “I felt really good out there and I had good location on my fastball and slider and my changeup was also working well.”
Pacifica pushed across a run in the first inning.
Jacob Zanaboni and Ryan Anema hit back-to-back one-out singles to right. One out later, Zanaboni stole third and then scored on Landyn Thomas’ RBI single to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. Pacifica had scoring opportunities in the third and fifth innings but each time Indians starter Mathew Carbajal pitched out of a jam.
“Mathew did a great job,” said Fullerton Coach Shaun Hill. “He gave up a few hits but none of them were hit hard. Our problem was that we didn’t hit with runners on and we didn’t get our bunts down and we made an error that costs us a run.”
Carbajal pitched 5 1/3 innings and struck out five and did not walk a batter before leaving with one out int the sixth inning.
The Indians best scoring opportunity came in the fifth when Kyle Kim led off with a double to right center. However, Brady retired the next three Fullerton batters to end the threat for Fullerton (7-2).
The Mariners added an insurance run in the sixth inning. Jayson Juarez singled with one out and moved to second after pinch hitter Ryland Chastain singled. Juarez scored from second base after an errant throw pulled Fullerton’s first baseman off the bag in an attempt to complete a double play.
“Our team has built good chemistry and good communication and our defense is strong and we’re getting solid pitching,” said Juarez, who had two hits.
Pacifica coach Mike Caira also said his team is playing well.
“Like every other team, we’ve missed a lot of practice due to rain but today Logan kept them at bay and Chad is a veteran who throws hard,” said Caira, whose team will face Villa Park on Saturday at Glover Stadium in the championship game of the Loara Tournament. “We had quality at bats and we have a good mix and I’m happy where we’re at, at this point in the season.”
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—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone
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