Steve Breazeale
Tritons Baseball Bounced from Playoffs in Extras
After holding a three-run lead for most of their CIF-SS Division 2 second-round game against visiting South Hills on May 21, the San Clemente baseball team saw their lead slip in the sixth inning and ultimately disappear in the eighth, as South Hills pulled off a 4-3 come from behind victory.
After scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie things up 3-3, South Hills’ first baseman David Denson planted an opposite field solo home run over the left-field fence in the eighth inning for the go-ahead run that vaulted the Huskies into the quarterfinals.
The Tritons jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when senior first baseman Jake Terkoski ripped a line drive that pierced into the steady wind and got out of the stadium in a hurry for a solo home run.
The home team’s offense wasn’t finished there, as they tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third. Senior center fielder Dan Caresio led the inning off with a double and was brought home by a Lucas Herbert RBI single. Senior right fielder Brock Eissman then hit a two-out RBI single through the left side of the infield that plated Herbert.
The Tritons would continue to get runners on base, but could not bring them in to score. The Huskies on the other hand, began chipping into the Tritons lead in the fifth inning, when right fielder Isaiah Gonzales hit a solo home run to bring the score to 3-1.
The top of the sixth inning proved to be disastrous for the Tritons, as South Hills’ leadoff man Niko Contreras reached on what was ultimately ruled a Tritons throwing error. For the second time in the game, the first-base umpire ruled that Terkoski pulled his foot off the bag, allowing Contreras to stay at first.
Contreras would advance to second and score on a two-out RBI double by South Hills’ Jonathan Ayala that tied the game.
“I didn’t think his foot was pulled,” San Clemente head coach Dave Gellatly said about Terkoski and the umpire’s ruling. “That definitely hurt us and it cost us in the long run… So it did change the game but the umpires make the calls and you have to go with the calls they make.”
The Tritons last solid scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth, when they had the bases loaded but could not convert.
“We had our opportunities and simply there were a couple innings where we just didn’t execute and when you don’t execute against good teams like this, unfortunately it comes back to bite you and that’s what happened,” Gellatly said.
The Tritons paved their way to the second-round by defeating Mayfair 7-0 in the playoff opener.
San Clemente Volleyball Set for Match With Oilers
The San Clemente boys volleyball team’s run at a CIF-SS title may have ended with their semifinal loss to Loyola on May 15, but the team started their quest for a CIF Regional Championship on May 21 with a three-set win over Granada Hills in the first round.
The convincing 25-19, 25-14, 25-14 win over Granada Hills marked the return of senior standout outside hitter Lucas Yoder. Yoder had been sidelined with a concussion since April 2 and had to watch from the sidelines as the Tritons made their playoff run without him.
Yoder’s stat line in the game against Granada Hills is a good indication that he is back and healthy.
Yoder led the team with 14 kills and had eight digs, picking up right where he left off. Garrett Costello tallied ten kills, Peter Van Liefde had nine and AJ Hammer contributed eight. Costello, Van Liefde and Hammer had been carrying the offensive load for the Tritons in Yoder’s absence.
Senior Jack Yoder had a team-high 26 assists and had seven digs. Senior libero Grant Townsend led the team with nine digs.
The serving game of the Tritons proved to be a difference in the match, as Jack Yoder tallied 10 points, including five aces, as a result of his serving. Lucas Yoder had two aces and Costello had one.
The Tritons will now face freshly minted CIF-SS Division 1 champion Huntington Beach on May 23 in the second round of the Southern California Regional Championships.
The two teams met in the OC Championship Tournament’s final match back on March 18, as San Clemente pulled off a 3-1 win to claim their second major tournament title on the season.
That loss, however, was the last time Huntington Beach has been defeated this year. The Oilers have since rattled off 22 consecutive wins and captured the CIF-SS Division 1 title.
The May 23 match will be at Huntington Beach at 7 p.m.
Doubles Teams Set for CIF Championships
The San Clemente boys tennis team were set to send two doubles teams to the CIF Division 1 Championships on May 22 at Corona Del Mar.
The duo of Nic Valko and Ryan Mariano made up one Tritons team while Matt Greenberg and Billy Whitaker made up the other.
Results for either doubles team were not available at press time.
Sam Darnold Receives Offer from Utah
On May 20 sophomore quarterback Sam Darnold received his first official offer by the University of Utah football program, according to head coach Jaime Ortiz.
The Utah coaching staff appears to have a strong interest in quarterbacks going through the San Clemente system, as Tritons alum Travis Wilson is the Utes starting quarterback.
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