SAN MATEO, CA – The wind was blowing, the ball was drifting, and the fans were chilled to the bone, but that didn't stop Hillsdale from getting the win. After a seven-run rally in the third inning, the Knights defeated Aragon 11-6.
The Dons started off the first inning strong with Andre Perkins and Chris Davis scoring runs to make it 2-0. The Knights tied the game 2-2 when Chandler Veira scored on a passed ball.
“Early on, I don't think we weren't exactly hitting," Hillsdale coach James Madison said.
The third inning rolled around, and the bats came alive. Riki Urata started off with a bunt single. With two runners on and no outs, Andrew Yarak crushed a solid line drive to left field for a single, followed by a grounder up the right field line for a hit by Conner Wallace.
“If you take [that] one inning away, you have a completely different ballgame,” said Aragon coach Lenny Souza. “[When your team] makes six errors in one inning, you'll have a tough time beating [any team].”
The Knights ended the inning with a 9-2 lead against the Dons, but that didn't stop the Dons from putting up a fight in the fourth. With two outs, Casey Cheng hit a double to the right field fence, scoring Spencer Walling. Brenden Donnelly brought in another run with a line drive to center field.
“We fought well and had a positive attitude throughout the game,” said Souza.
The Dons continued to battle into the top of the fifth inning. With two outs and the wind picking up, Steven Hughes jacked a home run over the right field fence, one of two homers he hit in the game.
“[At first] I kind of struggled, but my offense helped me pick it up, and it was very easy to come back and pitch,” said Veira.
Conner Wallace led Hillsdale with two hits and three runs batted in and Rohith Mahanty added two hits and two RBI.
For Aragon, Hughes had two hits and two RBI and Donnelly had two hits and one RBI.
The victory kept Hillsdale (13-6 overall, 6-3 league) in a first-place tie with Sequoia for the league lead. Aragon (10-9, 5-4) fell one game off the pace.
The Knights and Dons face each other again on Thursday, April 22 at Aragon High School.
