COSTA MESA, Calif. – In a battle between two of the marquee pitchers in the Golden State Athletic Conference, Vanguard was able to come away with the victory, defeating the twelve-ranked Westmont Warriors by a score of 7-3. With the victory the Lions improve to 31-12 on the season, with a 24-10 GSAC record, and the Warriors drop to 31-9 with a 25-8 conference mark.
This was the first game in an important series for the two schools, as each are in a four-way race for the conference title. Both teams sent their aces to the mound, with Sean Isaac (JR/Redondo Beach, CA) starting for the Lions, and Russell Harmening starting for the Warriors. Each pitcher is among the conference leaders in ERA, with Harmening's 1.17 ERA leading the conference and Isaac's 2.06 ERA ranking fourth.
The Lions were not phased by the flashy ERA though, as they scored two quick runs in the first inning to take the 2-0 lead. Brandon Sandoval (SO/Fallbrook, CA) started the inning off with a single, and the conference leader in stolen bases promptly stole second to get into scoring position. After a Justin Vega (SO/Chatsworth, CA) single, Jose Rojas (JR/Anaheim, CA) sent Sandoval home with a single of his own to put the Lions up 1-0. They would add to that tally after a fielder's choice allowed Vega to cross the plate and make it 2-0.
Isaac would keep the Warriors quiet through the first three innings, only allowing two hits during that time, and allowing the Lions offense to add to the lead in the third inning. Vega started things off after being hit by a pitch, and Brock Eissman (SO/San Clemente, CA) drew a walk during the next at bat. Vega would take advantage of a wild pitch and cross the plate to make it 3-0, and Eissman would make it 4-0 after advancing home when Paul Keating (JR/Oceanside, CA) grounded out.
Harmening would settle in through the next four innings and shut out the Lions hitters, and during that time the Warriors would close the gap. They would score one run in the fourth inning and two in the seventh inning to cut the lead to 4-3. However that would be as close as the Warriors would get as the Lions relief pitching of Christian Sheehan (SO/Redondo Beach, CA) and Marshall McKinnon (SR/Los Gatos, CA) would come in to shut the door in the final two innings, not allowing another run in the game. The Lions would add three insurance runs in the eighth inning, taking advantage of the Warriors mistakes, to extend the lead to 7-3, and give the Lions the win.
Isaac earned his eighth win of the season to improve to 8-2 after 7.1 innings of work, and Harmening dropped to 9-2 on the year. Rojas had a good day at the plate, going two-for-four with two RBI's, and was the only Lion to have multiple hits on the afternoon.
The Lions currently sit four games back on first place, and begin a stretch of series against each of the top three teams to close out the season. Vanguard will return home for the final two games of the series, closing out with a double header against the Warriors tomorrow afternoon. The first pitch of the double header is scheduled for Noon.
-GOLDPRIDE-
