Apr 10, 2017 4 min read

CARMICHAELS – The Carmichaels confidence grew, both in the dugout and in the stands, as the Mikes trimmed California’s lead to two runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. The Mikes had an opportunity, with the bases loaded, to bring the score back to even against their section rival.

Sophomore Collin Reynolds and the rest of the Carmichaels faithful thought it was seconds from happening after he turned on a pitch, sending it sharply down the third-base line for what looked like extra bases.

However, California third baseman Alex Adams made a diving snag, fully extending to grab the ground ball. Adams quickly got up and stepped on the base for a forceout, ending the fourth inning and erasing any hope of a Carmichaels comeback.

Adams’ defensive gem, along with six runs over the next two innings for California, propelled the Trojans to a 10-2 victory over previously undefeated Carmichaels in Section 1-A Monday afternoon.

The win gives the Trojans sole possession of first place in the section.

“Alex’s diving stop really changed the game,” California head coach Nick Damico said. “If that ball gets through, we have a really tight game. Any time you have a tight game in high school, anything can happen. Him making that play was huge for us and we followed it really well on the offensive side.”

Following Adams’ game-altering stop, the Trojans used their timely hitting in combination with walks issued by Carmichaels pitching to extend the lead. Tyler Jacobs’ sacrifice fly brought home Nate Luketich to Cal a 5-2 lead.

“We did not have a good weekend of practice,” admitted Carmichaels head coach Richard Krause. “We had some distractions and were not ready to play. We walked nine batters. I don’t know how many scored but probably a bunch of them. You can’t do that. You aren’t going to beat anybody walking nine batters.”

Of those nine free passes to a powerful California lineup, seven came around score. Tyler Jacobs had a single to center field in the first inning that put the Trojans ahead 2-0. Richard Stimmell added a sacrifice fly that scored Luketich, pushing California’s lead to 3-0 in the first.

“We have pretty good plate discipline,” Damico said. “If the pitcher is going to challenge us, then we will swing. It worked out for us, especially early. Being able to bring those runs in was a real good sign for us.”

Not only did California (4-0, 6-1) take advantage of walks but of some self-inflicted throwing errors by the Mikes extended innings.

“We are better than what we showed today,” Krause said frustratingly. “(California) is a senior-latent team and they showed it. They are a very motivated team with a lot of moxie. We knew that we would have to play well and limit our mistakes. We did anything but eliminate mistakes.”

Instead, the Mikes turned into throwing the ball around the field on multiple occasions as Carmichaels (2-1, 5-1) committed four errors.

Any threat the Mikes had offensively came from hit batsmen and walks from California. The Mikes were held to three hits by Cal starting pitcher Brandon Powell and relievers Jacob Swartz and Luketich. Powell went 4 1/3 innings.

Jacobs led the Trojans by going 2-for-2 with five RBI. Luketich drove in three runs and scored three runs.

Joel Spishock had the lone extra-base hit for Carmichaels with a first-inning double to deep right centerfield.

“I know what we are capable of doing and what we aren’t capable of doing,” Krause said. “We left a lot of plays on the field that we’re capable of making. We have to be better and a lot more consistent. Our compete level the last couple of innings wasn’t what it should have been. We will fix that.”