Having scored only two runs in its previous three games, the Palisades High varsity baseball team was anxious to swing the bats better heading into Tuesday’s Western League opener against Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies.
Sure enough, the Dolphins broke out of their hitting slump in a huge way against the Unicorns, as Henry Coquillard blasted a home run and Justin Hirschberg pitched six scoreless innings in a 10-2 triumph.
The two teams went at it again Thursday and once more the host Dolphins prevailed, 7-2, as Roben Sieling allowed three hits with five strikeouts in six innings and Will Bucksbaum pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to preserve the victory.
Remy Meteigner reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the first inning and later scored on a ground out by Harrison Hart.
Hart made the defensive play of the game in the top of the second, snaring a chopper deep in the hole at shortstop and firing to first to nip LACES runner Ballora Beckham by a step.
Hirschberg singled with one out in the second and moved to second on a walk by Jake Georgeff. Meteigner followed with a triple to score both runners and give the Dolphins a 3-0 lead.
In the third, Hart reached on a bunt single, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. A line drive by Leo Bucksbaum scored Hart and another run scored on a squeeze. Coquillard singled to score Hart in the fourth.
James Sarantes doubled in the fifth to break up Sieling’s perfect game and he scored on a throwing error to end the shutout. LACES added a run in the seventh.
The Dolphins hosted Santa Monica in a Redondo Tournament game Saturday at George Robert Field and lost 4-2.
Augie Sylk pitched four and 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and four walks for Palisades.
The Dolphins took a 2-1 lead in the second inning. Coquillard doubled and scored on another double by Matt Silvera, who alertly scampered home while Benji Taylor was caught in a rundown between first and second.
The Vikings took the lead with three runs in the fifth.
The Dolphins traveled south for this week’s San Diego Lions Tournament and opened Premier Division action Monday against Oceanside El Camino.
Palisades was held to two hits in a 3-1 loss. Leo Bucksbaum allowed seven hits with four strikeouts in six innings on the mound and Coquillard doubled.
Hirschberg pitched six innings, Hart homered and Tyler Yeh had three RBIs in Tuesday’s 6-2 win against Valhalla.
— Steve Galluzzo
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