Huntington Beach, CA - Golden West baseball (11-4) scored double-digits in their win over Mt. San Jacinto (12-3), 11-2.
It was a successful start for the Rustlers as the team jumped out ahead. Kaleb Duncan did his job as a leadoff hitter and stroked a single. A perfect hit and run was executed as a Robert Castillo single put runners at first and third. Ayden Garcia stepped up to the plate and launched the ball opposite field over the left field wall for a three-run blast, 3-0. A near identical hit and run execution took place when Jack Salmon knocked over Zech Samayoa to third. Andrew Kirchner hit a high fly ball to right field for a sacrifice fly out and four run lead, 4-0. In three consecutive plate appearances, the Rustlers knocked in a run from Alec Castillo, Davis Hildenbrandt and Robert Castillo to close out the first, 8-0.
Mt. San Jacinto would score in the top of the second inning but due to two separate errors committed by the Rustler defense. In the third, the Eagles scored a second run from an RBI knock and made it a six run game, 8-2. As the Eagles pursued a comeback in the fourth inning, Robert Castillo stole a base hit with a web jem. The shortstop dove towards a ground ball up the middle, snagged the ball and threw out the runner at first.
In the fifth, Golden plated two more runs off of the big bat of Kirchner. Samayoa would single to start the fifth off for the Rustlers. Kirchner entered the box with a runner in scoring position and demolished the ball for a two-run home run that extended the home team's lead, 10-2. Two innings later, Salmon got on the board with an RBI double to cap Golden West's scoring at 11 runs. Golden West closed out the victory in the ninth, 11-2.
Castillo had himself a day at the plate as he went 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Garcia smacked a home run which earned him three RBIs and a run scored. At the top of the lineup, Duncan was 2-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. On the bump, AJ Hernandez delivered 4.0 frames as he struck out four. Jake Ferretti struck out one in his inning and Elias Valdez came in for two frames of relief. Grant Faris struck out two in his three batters faced and Jake Rice closed out the game in the ninth.
UP NEXT: Golden West will travel to San Diego Mesa on Wednesday, February 28th for their next game. First pitch will be at 1pm.
