The Sharks scored nine runs in the first two innings and coasted to an 11-5 win over the Salesian Mustangs in the CIF wildcard game on Tuesday. Jace Dispenza had three hits and five RBIs to pace the offense and Michael Gwyn struck out six while earning a complete-game victory on the mound.
Michael Gwyn delivers to a Salesian hitter.
After Gwyn set down the Mustangs in order in the top of the first, Jared Weinstock started things offensively with a one-out single. Brooks Fitch grounded to third, but a throwing error allowed him to reach safely and while moving Weinstock to third. Stephen Williams’ flyout to center scored Weinstock with the Sharks’ first run. Gwyn and Jacob Perrin followed with walks to load the bases. A base hit by Colbie Bell brought in Fitch. Dispenza then hit a flare down the rightfield line for a base-clearing triple to conclude a five-run first inning for Malibu.
Jared Weinstock fouls off a pitch.
In the top of the second, Eric Galdamez led off with a single for Salesian. Firstbaseman Colbie Bell turned a hit-and-run play into an unassisted double play as Gus Garcia popped out near the bag. Gwyn struck out Geovanni Alvarez to end the top of the second.
The bottom of the second started much like the first had as Weinstock singled with one out. An errant pickoff attempt moved Weinstock to second. Fitch flied to right for the second out of the inning, but Weinstock tagged and moved to third on the play. Williams then singled up the middle to knock in Weinstock for the second time in as many innings. After Gwyn was hit by a pitch, Perrin singled to drive in Williams from second. Bell walked to load the bases for Dispenza, who delivered a single to knock in two more runs.
Gwyn retired the Mustangs in order in the third and fourth innings. Except for a single by Greg Kernodle to lead off the third inning, the Sharks also went down in order in the third and fourth innings.
Salesian broke through for two runs in the top of the fifth. Galdamez led off with a walk. After Galdamez stole second, Garcia singled to move him to third. Galdamez scored and Garcia advanced to second on a wild pitch. Consecutive groundouts by Alvarez and Tommy Sotello moved Garcia to third and home. Chris Castillo and Chris Vanacore followed with base hits, but Gwyn got Martinez to ground to Kernodle at second for the final out of the inning.
Greg Kernodle waits for a pitch.
The Sharks had a two-out single by Kernodle in the bottom of the fifth, but the inning ended when Sean Conrad, hitting for Weinstock, flied to left.
In the top of the sixth, Francisco Alvarez led of with a double. After Bryant walked, Galdamez singled to left to load the bases. An error by Fitch at third allowed Francisco Alvarez to score. After Geovanni Alvarez popped out to Bell at first, Sotello hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Bryant. Galdamez stole third and promptly scored on Castillo's basehit. Gwyn struck out Vanacore to end the inning.
Stephen Williams scores on a wild pitch in the sixth inning.
Malibu got two runs back in the bottom of the sixth. Fitch walked to start the inning. Williams grounded to third but avoided a double play by beating the relay from second. Gwyn’s grounder to the left side on a hit-and-run advanced Williams all the way to third. As Perrin took ball four, the ball skipped all the way to the backstop allowing Williams to score. Perrin stole second and Bell walked to bring up Dispenza with another run-scoring opportunity. Dispenza responded again, but Perrin was held at third to leave the bases loaded for Nate Schoenbrun. Schoenbrun walked on four pitches to force in Perrin with the Sharks’ eleventh run.
Up by six runs, Gwyn breezed through the top of the seventh, striking out the first two hitters he faced and getting Bryant out on a grounder to third.
Malibu’s win sets up a game against the top-ranked St. Bonaventure Seraphs tomorrow in Ventura at 3:15.
