(Walnut) By John M. Sherrard – Behind another strong pitching performance by sophomore Daniel Diaz (Ayala HS), the Mounties defeated visiting East Los Angeles College, 5-2, Saturday afternoon in a South Coast Conference game at Mazmanian Field.
Diaz, who won his second consecutive game after a seven-inning outing a week ago, gave up only four hits and two runs in six and a third innings against the Huskies (13-17, 8-7).
He also struck out four batters and sophomore Nate Alam (El Dorado HS) pitched the final 2 2/3 innings of no hit baseball for his first save of the season.
"It was a very good win and actually the other two games (against ELAC) we were only a hit away in each ballgame to really make it an interesting game," Mt. SAC coach Kevin Smith said.
"Daniel (Diaz) has pitched really well and Nate (Alam) has come in huge for us the last couple of games and pitched well for the back end of our pen. And Semi (Seminaris), he has a lot of energy and is a great kid."
Mt. SAC (11-19, 4-11) was led offensively with a 4 for 4 day from center fielder Anthony Seminaris (Ayala HS). The sophomore had four singles and scored two of the five runs for the Mounties.
"I was trying to compete in every at bat and give it all I got," Seminaris said, who upped his batting average to a team-leading .378.
Seminaris and Diaz both were teammates at Ayala and have played together for some years.
"I've been playing with Daniel for seven years now and he's gone through a lot of adversity like a lot of us have," Seminaris said. "Some of the games he pitched we just didn't get him hits. He's a damn good pitcher."
Sophomore designated hitter Spencer Sundahl (East Lake HS), who was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, singled in Seminaris for the 1-0 lead in the first and scored again in the two-run third inning.
Seminaris came home in the third on an infield out by first baseman Kory Brown (Charter Oak HS) and Sundahl singled to right, scoring sophomore catcher Johnny Juarez (Glendora HS) for the second run.
After ELAC scored twice in the seventh inning on a two-run single by Travis Mcfarland, to trail 3-2, the Mounties answered with two more runs in the eighth for the 5-2 lead.
Freshman first baseman Tyrus Lineberger (Chino Hills HS) scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by sophomore shortstop Esteban Ortega (Los Altos HS) and sophomore third baseman Matt Majher(Corona HS) was doubled in by sophomore second baseman Connor Starkweather (Servite HS) for the 5-2 score.
Mt. SAC will play Pasadena City College (11-19, 5-10) in a three-game series this week with home games on Tuesday (2:30pm) and next Saturday (noon).
Baseball defeats East Los Angeles, 5-2
(Walnut) By John M. Sherrard – Behind another strong pitching performance by sophomore Daniel Diaz (Ayala HS), the Mounties defeated visiting East Los Angeles College, 5-2, Saturday afternoon in a South Coast Conference game at Mazmanian Field.
Diaz, who won his second consecutive game after a seven-inning outing a week ago, gave up only four hits and two runs in six and a third innings against the Huskies (13-17, 8-7).
He also struck out four batters and sophomore Nate Alam (El Dorado HS) pitched the final 2 2/3 innings of no hit baseball for his first save of the season.
"It was a very good win and actually the other two games (against ELAC) we were only a hit away in each ballgame to really make it an interesting game," Mt. SAC coach Kevin Smith said.
"Daniel (Diaz) has pitched really well and Nate (Alam) has come in huge for us the last couple of games and pitched well for the back end of our pen. And Semi (Seminaris), he has a lot of energy and is a great kid."
Mt. SAC (11-19, 4-11) was led offensively with a 4 for 4 day from center fielder Anthony Seminaris (Ayala HS). The sophomore had four singles and scored two of the five runs for the Mounties.
"I was trying to compete in every at bat and give it all I got," Seminaris said, who upped his batting average to a team-leading .378.
Seminaris and Diaz both were teammates at Ayala and have played together for some years.
"I've been playing with Daniel for seven years now and he's gone through a lot of adversity like a lot of us have," Seminaris said. "Some of the games he pitched we just didn't get him hits. He's a damn good pitcher."
Sophomore designated hitter Spencer Sundahl (East Lake HS), who was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, singled in Seminaris for the 1-0 lead in the first and scored again in the two-run third inning.
Seminaris came home in the third on an infield out by first baseman Kory Brown (Charter Oak HS) and Sundahl singled to right, scoring sophomore catcher Johnny Juarez (Glendora HS) for the second run.
After ELAC scored twice in the seventh inning on a two-run single by Travis Mcfarland, to trail 3-2, the Mounties answered with two more runs in the eighth for the 5-2 lead.
Freshman first baseman Tyrus Lineberger (Chino Hills HS) scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by sophomore shortstop Esteban Ortega (Los Altos HS) and sophomore third baseman Matt Majher(Corona HS) was doubled in by sophomore second baseman Connor Starkweather (Servite HS) for the 5-2 score.
Mt. SAC will play Pasadena City College (11-19, 5-10) in a three-game series this week with home games on Tuesday (2:30pm) and next Saturday (noon).
