3/7/23: Redwood JV continued their early season roll with an 8-2 win over the San Marin Mustangs in their first MCAL game of the year. Redwood is now 6-0 overall and 1-0 in the MCAL standings.
San Marin came out swinging in the first inning. With one out, the Mustangs used an infield hit and a booming double to go up 1-0. After a Redwood error, San Marin had two on with only one out and looked ready to add to their lead. But Redwood’s ace Jack Gurley, having just allowed his first earned run of the year, shut the door with back-to-back strikeouts.
The Giants came alive in the bottom of the second thanks to some strategic at-bats and plenty of San Marin miscues. After Miles Harrison was plunked on the helmet to open the frame and then stole second on the ensuing pitch, Cole Engstrom dropped a bunt directly in front of the plate. A throwing error by the Mustang catcher scored Harrison and allowed Engstrom to race all the way to third. Jordan Kimball drove Engstrom in with an infield single and moved to second on another throwing error. After a Kiran Murray single moved Kimball to third, Kaelin Chrisman picked up an RBI with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Speedster Conall Bourke came in to run for Murray at second and quickly came in to score with a head-first dive after the left fielder for San Marin misplayed Eric Mittelman’s line drive. TJ Beck eventually drove Mittelman in with a hard single up the middle, putting Redwood up 5-1.
Redwood faced down another threat in the top of the third, as San Marin loaded the bases with no outs on two singles and a walk. Gurley struck out the next batter, and catcher Miles Harrison nabbed a runner at the plate on a failed suicide squeeze for the second out. An error allowed a run to score before a groundout ended the frame and limited the damage.
The Giants plated three runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Ryan Scott and Harrison. Kimball tripled in Engstrom for his second hit of the day, and that closed the scoring for the game.
Ryan Scott made his first appearance of the year on the mound when he came in from right field to pitch in the 6th. After he walked the first batter, he induced a 6-4-3 double play on the next pitch to clear the bases. Scott settled in after that and finished the game, going two innings and giving up no runs on a couple hits and a walk.
If weather permits, the back half of this home-and-away series against the Mustangs will take place on Friday in Novato, as Redwood looks to continue its early-season run.