Malibu 10, Palisades 8 (Summary)

Malibu scored eight runs in the second inning and held off a late rally by Pacific Palisades to win the 2006 American Legion season opener by a score of 10-8.

Palisades jumped out to a 3-0 lead on three hits including a two-run homer by cleanup hitter Cole Cook before Malibu starter Phil Johnson settled into a rhythm. Johnson retired 13 of the last 15 batters he faced, seven by strikeout, in recording the win.

Malibu erased the deficit and then some in the bottom of the second. Stephen Williams led off the inning with a walk. Jason Puklus followed with an infield single that moved Williams to second. After Brett Weinstock flied to center, Jamie Van Soelen lined a double to the right field corner to drive in Williams and Puklus. Geoff Roth then doubled to right center to score Van Soelen. Sean Conrad then knocked in Roth with a single to left to give Malibu a 4-3 lead.

With one out and Conrad on second as a result of a bobble in the outfield, Greg Kernodle lined a shot to third. A diving play retired Kernodle, but Conrad advanced to third. A passed ball on the second pitch to Daniel Williams allowed Conrad to score Malibu’s fifth run.

After Williams walked and stole second, Johnson also walked. On a 1-0 count, Stephen Williams launched a three-run homer over the left field fence to make the score 8-3. Puklus followed with a double and Weinstock walked, but Van Soelen popped up to short to end the inning.

Malibu tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Kernodle singled. Daniel Williams followed with an infield hit coupled with a throwing error that advanced Kernodle to third. With Johnson at bat, Williams stole second. Johnson walked to load the bases and bring Stephen Williams to the plate. Williams singled through the left side to drive in two runs.

Johnson cruised through the middle innings before giving way to Wesley Semkin in the sixth. Semkin retired Palisades in order in the sixth, but ran into trouble in the top of the seventh. Three hits, two errors, and two hit batters produced five runs for Palisades before Semkin was able to close the door.

On the day, Stephen Williams was 3-for-3 with five RBIs and a walk. Jason Puklus and Sean Conrad were both 2-for-3.

Next up for Malibu is a game at UCLA against Brentwood on Friday. Game time is 5:00 p.m.