Pali Baseball Beats Valley Squads

Championships are not won in March but the first two games were as important as any the Palisades High varsity baseball team will play all season. The Dolphins posted back-to-back wins at home against San Fernando Valley teams, blanking Sun Valley Poly 6-0 on Friday and edging Granada Hills 5-4 the next day in the first two rounds of the Simi Valley Royal Tournament. Coach Mike Voelkel said his current group plays sound defense and is very smart–attributes befitting teams that can win close games. This is the first time Palisades has started the season 2-0 since back in 2005-06 under former coach Tom Seyler. The Dolphins opened 0-4-1 last season before rebounding to win 22 games, score 205 runs and finish 18-0 in the Western League. Palisades started 0-2-1 two years ago and got off to a 0-3 start in 2006-07. Of course, what’s more important is how you finish and the Dolphins hope to avoid losing in the first round of the playoffs. Wins against two quality Valley teams will serve Palisades when it comes time for the City Playoff seeding meeting in May because one of the criteria is head-to-head competition and another is strength of schedule. Starting pitcher Julian Achez kept Parrots batters guessing all game and fellow senior Adam Flores closed out the victory. The Dolphins wasted little time getting on the board as ninth-grader Sam Wasserman doubled to deep left in the first inning and scored on a sacrifice fly to center. Wasserman finished 3-for-3 with a walk and outfielder Josh Korn clouted a home run. The Dolphins were right back at George Robert Field the next day to host a tough West Valley League opponent and after building a five-run lead the Dolphins appeared poised for their second straight shutout. However, starter Nick Poulos tired after six strong innings of work and the Highlanders got back into the game with a three-run home run. Junior Dylan Jeffers got two strikeouts in the seventh inning to earn the save. Junior first baseman Philip Joseph and sophomore catcher Cary Jacobson each had a key double to drive in Palisades’ runs. The junior varsity shut out host Poly 12-0 Friday behind the arm of pitcher Travis Traweek, who tossed a five-inning complete game. Brian Lewinstein and Holland Herzfeld each had two hits.