Pali High Baseball Blanked by Kennedy in First Round of City Open Division Playoffs
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
One of the oldest sayings in sports is defense wins championships and that’s what won the game for Kennedy High’s baseball team last Thursday afternoon at George Robert Field.
The Cougars robbed Palisades of several hits and turned two double plays on their way to a 2-0 upset in the first round of the City Section Open Division playoffs.
“It just didn’t happen for us today but give them credit—they made some incredible plays in the field. It was a pretty even game.”
Pitching has been one of the Dolphins’ strengths all season and Josh Barzilai and Lucas Braun combined for a five-hitter, but it wasn’t quite enough to keep the season alive. Palisades was trying to avenge a 7-4 home loss in the Poly Tournament in February, before the Dolphins hit their stride.
“You always get confidence anytime you win and we try to learn from every game,” Kennedy Coach Marcus Alvarado said. “We’re built on defense so I knew it would be low scoring. The pressure was on both teams. We didn’t care who we play, we just want to show that seedings don’t matter.”
Brandon Duarte doubled to lead off the game, Andrew Alvarez followed by popping a home run over the right field fence and that was all the offense 11th-seeded Kennedy would need.
“I was overjoyed to get the start today,” Barzilai said. “I had tendinitis before Senior Night but I pitched good that game and I felt great coming into this one. The first hit was a blooper… nothing you can do. On the second one I threw a fastball that was up a bit and he made me pay.”
Chris Alvarez struck out only three batters but kept the Dolphins off balance while allowing only two hits. When Palisades did get base runners, Kennedy’s defense squelched the rally.
“I want my pitchers going all seven innings,” Alvarado added. “Chris is our ace and I like giving him the ball.”
Julian Scissors led off the bottom of the first inning and belted a line drive that appeared to be on its way into center field, but second baseman Steven McDonnell dove to his right to snare it. Cord Vanley followed with an infield single but Eli Levy fouled out on a hustling grab by outfielder Caleb Valenzuela and Benji Taylor popped to short.
Braun walked to begin the bottom of the second but Conrad Smith hit into a double play and Jacob Kalt flied to left. Barzilai blooped a single to center to start the home half of the third and Kent Johnson reached on an error, but Scissors lined out to center, Barzilai was doubled off second and Vanley grounded out.
The sixth-seeded Dolphins were retired in order in the fourth and fifthand Barzilai lasted until one out in the sixth when he was relieved by Braun with two runners on. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat but Palisades was unable to mount a rally in the bottom frame. Braun struck out two in the top of the seventh, but the Dolphins went quietly in their last at-bat as Braun popped to third for the final out.
“He was hitting his spots but I don’t think he was doing anything special, we should’ve done better than we did,” Barzilai said. ”I thought coming into the playoffs like we could beat any team.”
It was nevertheless a successful season for the Dolphins, who won 22 games, beat three league champions (including the No. 1 seed Cleveland) and finished undefeated in Western League play.
Kennedy travels to third-seeded Birmingham, which had a first-round bye in the 12-team bracket.
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