Rounding the Bases

Pali High Baseball Continues Streak with Impressive Wins Versus Granada Hills and Marshall

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Pitching has been the story for the Palisades High baseball team so far this season, but on Saturday the Dolphins showed how formidable they can be when they are also swinging the sticks well.

Will Coquillard, who made the All-City team last spring and is almost ready to return to the rotation, belted two home runs—a three-run shot to right field in the first inning and a two-run dinger to center field in the third as the Dolphins blanked visiting L.A. Marshall 10-0 in six innings for their fourth win in a row.

“I just wanted to get it in play and I happened to get fastballs out over the plate,” Coquillard said. “My teammates got on in front of me and that was the key. We want to start the season on a high note and get as many wins as possible.”

After Coquillard singled to put runners on first and third,  Brady Kates got an RBI hit to end the game. Lucas Braun tripled, Jared Brecher had a sacrifice fly and Kyle Grassl went three-for-three as the Dolphins improved to 8-2—their best start in 12 seasons under Coach Mike Voelkel.

Ohio State signee Wyatt Loncar struck out the side in the second and fourth innings, finishing  with 10 strikeouts in five innings. In 24 innings pitched this spring (four starts) the Dolphins’ senior right-hander has 44 strikeouts and zero walks. Miles Kirshner retired the Barristers in order in the sixth.    

On Friday, Braun pitched a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts in the Dolphins’ 7-1 victory over Granada Hills—a team Palisades lost to last year. Brecher hit a two-run single to give the pinstripes a 4-0 lead in the second inning and a  bunt by Julian Scissors sparked a three-run rally in the fifth.

Two days before Palisades beat Marshall 6-3 behind a strong outing by Brecher. The Dolphins return to action today versus Roosevelt in the SoCal Invitational.

“Neither Wyatt nor Lucas has walked a batter yet,” Voelkel said. “They throw strikes and that’s been the key to their success.”