Cook’s Three-Hitter Beats Venice

Cole Cook showed why he is the ace of Palisades High’s pitching staff on Monday night, throwing a three-hit masterpiece in the Dolphins’ 1-0 Western League victory over Venice at George Robert Field. After throwing 61 pitches in five innings in his previous start– a 11-1 rout of L.A. Hamilton–Palisades’ senior right-hander had nine strikeouts, including three to open the game, against the Gondoliers (6-4, 2-1). Palisades (7-5, 3-0) staged a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh against Venice starter Jack Richardson to win its third straight league game. David Skolnik reached on an infield single and advanced on a single to left field by Austin Jones. Garrett Champion grounded to the shortstop, who threw wide of first, allowing Skolnik to score the winning run on the error and lift the Dolphins into first place alone. Against Hamilton last Thursday, Skolnik went three-for-three with a double, one RBI and two runs scored and Jonathan Moscot added a double, a single, two RBIs and one run scored for the Dolphins. Palisades heads south for the San Diego Lions tournament next week.