Coach Paul Gallo juggled the Malibu lineup and came up with six hits and five runs from the top two spots in the order as the Sharks defeated the Nordhoff Rangers 11-7 in the final meeting of the season for the two Frontier League rivals. Brett Weinstock went 3-for-4 and scored four runs batting leadoff for the first time and Geoff Roth, in the second spot for the first time since March 7, added another three hits and an RBI. Daniel Williams, hitting third for the first time this season, responded with four RBIs including a two-RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to break a 5-5 tie.
Phil Johnson delivers to the plate.
Roth, who replaced starter Phil Johnson in the third, scattered four hits over four and two-thirds innings to earn his second win in relief this season.
Nordhoff jumped on top early, scoring three runs in the top of the first on a walk, two singles, a double, and an RBI groundout. Malibu countered with two in the bottom of the first. Weinstock led off with a single to left and moved to second on Roth’s single through the infield. Both advanced on Williams’ infield groundout. Johnson drove in Weinstock with another groundout. Jamie Van Soelen followed with a walk. Brooks Fitch then struck out on a ball that bounced away from the Nordhoff catcher. Fitch reached first safely as Roth scored on the play. As Jason Puklus walked, Van Soelen was thrown out trying to score as ball four got past the catcher.
The Sharks went ahead in the second inning. Michael Gwyn was hit by a pitch. Stephen Williams followed with a single to left. Weinstock drove in Gwyn with his second hit of the day. Roth followed with a single that scored Williams. Weinstock then scored on Daniel Williams’ groundout to short.
Nordhoff tied the game in the top of the third. With one out, Johnson walked two consecutive batters, at which point Coach Gallo called on Roth. A double to deep left scored both Rangers runners, but Roth settled down and retired the next two Nordhoff hitters.
In the bottom of the fourth, Gwyn led off with a single to center. After Stephen Williams popped out to the first baseman, Weinstock and Roth both singled to load the bases. Daniel Williams then lined a 3-1 pitch off the Nordhoff third baseman’s glove to drive in both Gwyn and Weinstock.
Roth ran into trouble in the fifth as Nordhoff put together three hits and a hit batter. A series of groundball outs, however, limited the Rangers to a single run as Roth left three runners stranded.
Stephen Williams reacts to a pop foul.
With the score 7-6, Malibu broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth. Jared Weinstock, batting for Van Soelen, led off with a line drive single to center. After Fitch was hit by a pitch, Jason Puklus loaded the bases with a bunt single. Weinstock was cut down at the plate for the first out of the inning on Gwyn’s fielder’s choice, but a walk to Stephen Williams drove in the first of four runs the Sharks were to score in the inning. After another fielder’s choice resulted in the second out, Roth hit a sharp ground ball to third. A wild throw allowed Roth to reach safely as Gwyn and Williams scored. Daniel Williams then knocked in Weinstock with a sharp ground ball off the chest of the third baseman.
In the top of the seventh, Roth ran into trouble again, but gave up only a single unearned run. With the bases loaded and the tie run at the plate as a result of two Malibu errors, Roth got a groundout to second to end the game.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Sharks and ran their record in the Frontier League to 6-1. Next up for the Sharks is a non-league game against Harvard Westlake tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.
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