Pali High Baseball Wins League Opener

It was on this date just two years ago that Palisades High’s varsity baseball squad opened Western League action with an 11-1 mercy of LA University. The Dolphins improved to 10-2, their best start in 12 seasons under head coach Mike Voelkel. Jared Brecher started on the mound and allowed only four hits with eight strikeouts in six innings. Miles Kirshner hit a fly ball to score Conrad Smith from third for the game-ending run. The Dolphins had eight hits, drew nine walks and stole 12 bases. “I’ve taken on the role as the No. 3 starter until Will Coquillard comes back and I’m just trying to do my part,” Brecher said. “The changeup is normally my go-to pitch and I improved on it a lot over the summer, but it wasn’t working today so I went with the fastball and curve ball. I trust my defense to make plays behind me. I know what kind of pitcher I am and I’ve been able to get a lot of first-pitch outs.” Cord Vanley and Kyle Grassl each had two hits and two runs and Julian Scissors drew four walks and stole four bases for Palisades, which went on to finish 12-0 in league and earned a bye in the first round of the City Section Open Division playoffs. Lucas Braun pitched a gem to blank Granada Hills 2-0 in the quarterfinals, then extended his scoreless innings streak in a 1-0 semifinal win against El Camino Real. In the championship game the Dolphins  faced Birmingham at Dodger Stadium and despite battling back to tie the game Palisades lost 9-5 in its first finals appearance since the Dolphins won the Invitational title in 2003 in their last game under coach Russ Howard. The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID.