Pitchers Hold Lions Hitless

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

In all his years coaching baseball, Palisades High coach Mike Voelkel cannot recall a more bizarre box score than the one from Monday’s game at Fairfax. The Dolphins were supposed to make quick work of their Western League rivals, yet it did not quite go according to the script.      

Palisades won 11-5 to improve to 8-6 overall, 7-3 in league, but it was hardly a clean outing. On the positive side, pitchers Roman Hawk (four innings) and Caleb Gitlin (three innings) combined to no-hit the host Lions, with each recording four strikeouts. The Dolphins racked up 11 hits and stole a season-high 12 bases. On the negative side, however, they committed nine errors—their most in a game in Voelkel’s 18-year tenure. Gifted numerous extra outs and a pair of walks in the bottom of the third, Fairfax loaded the bases then proceeded to plate five unearned runs, pulling to within two before its rally was squelched.

Watching from the dugout, Voelkel called his team’s defense “really bad” and likened it to “scratching on the chalk board.” Fortunately for Palisades, the Lions had fielding and throwing issues also, making eight errors of their own. In all, the teams combined for 17 miscues in seven innings.     

Fortunately for the Dolphins, their offense had no trouble scoring. It was a productive day for Jack Kurland, who had a double, a single, one RBI, two runs scored and three steals. Ian Sullivan had three hits, including a double, and two runs scored; Andreas Konnari had two hits, two RBIs and one run scored; Jett Teegardin had a single, a triple and a run scored; Logan Bailey had one hit, one RBI and one run scored; Isaac Buenrostro had one run and one hit; Hawk and Noah Andrews each scored a run; and Sammy Dunn and Gitlin each drove in one run.   

Last week, Palisades beat Westchester 20-1 and 11-1 (both ended in five innings) and outscored University 13-4. Relief pitcher Yamato Yukimoto struck out the side in the fifth inning of the first game against the Comets while Gitlin and Hudson Ramberg each had two hits and three RBIs and Hawk added two doubles and three runs scored. In the second game versus the Comets, Gitlin had two hits and four RBIs, Kurland hit a two-run double and Hawk scored four runs. On the mound, Teegardin tossed a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts. Andrews led the way against the Wildcats with two doubles, a pair of RBIs and two runs, Hawk blasted a two-run homer (the team’s third of the season), Kurland had a double and three runs scored and Bailey added an RBI double.

The Dolphins play at Fairfax today (varsity at 2, JV at 4:15)  before tournament games with North Hollywood on Saturday, Taft on Tuesday, Verdugo Hills on Thursday and a nonleaguer April 19 at Granada Hills.