After a successful march through a grueling Western League schedule, Point Loma’s Pointer baseball team is the No. 1 seed in CIF Div. II playoffs, a seeding that avoids a “play-in” game in the double-elimination march to a championship.
That No. 1 seeding also makes it likely the Pointers will play all games leading to the finals on their home field unless their opponent is a league champion. They are 10-2-3 on David Wells Field, In fact, the Pointers began their quest earlier this week when they hosted the winner of the play-in game between No. 8 Mt. Carmel and No. 9 Scripps Ranch. If they win that game they will play again on May 17 at home with the first pitch at 3:30 p.m.
During the 10-day period of the playoffs, the Pointers could play as many as six games, which places a premium on the depth of each team in the division. During the season, most teams used the same two starting pitchers when playing only on Wednesdays and Fridays. But the playoff schedule will place a strain on the pitching depth of each team.
For the Pointers, those two starters have been senior Will Sanford and junior Matthew Garrison, both of whom have been outstanding.
For Oregon-bound Sanford, his numbers are 52.1 innings pitched, a 1.20 ERA, an opponents’ batting average of .111, with 28 walks and 98 strikeouts.
Garrison’s numbers include 55.1 innings pitched, a 1.14 ERA, an opponents’ batting average of .156, 22 walks, and 67 strikeouts.
But others such as seniors Liam Cannavino, Kai Dickinson, Brayden Taylor, and juniors Druw Frost, Marvel Underwood, and Luis Lara will be taking the mound and be counted on to keep the Pointers in games.
The Pointers finished the regular season with a 14-8-4 record (.610 win percentage), a significant improvement over last season’s 14-17-1 (.453) and last-place league finish.
Offensively, the Pointers are hitting .240 as a team and have averaged 4.2 runs per game but have struggled at times getting runners on base or bringing them home. They did win three home league games, however, by 1-0 scores, evidence of great pitching and defense.
Mentally, the team has possibly never been better, a testament to the positivity, leadership, preparation, and example set by new head coach Rigo Ledezma, who is constantly teaching, supporting, and giving signals to his players. The players, in turn, have responded with attention, hustle, and support of each other.
St. Augustine finished atop the challenging Western League with a record of 7-3, however, two of those losses were to the Pointers, who knocked the Saints from atop local rankings. The only team the Pointers didn’t defeat was Patrick Henry when, after the teams fought to a scoreless tie at home after nine innings, the game was called for darkness. Four Pointer games (and two league games) ended this way with scores of 0-0, 1-1, 2-2, and 8-8, all in extra innings.
If the Pointers had won the two tied league games they would have shared first place with the Saints.
The final regular season game was literally a blast for the Pointers when they hosted Christian last Friday for the “Senior Day” celebration. The Patriots had beaten them 6-1 in El Cajon last Wednesday but the Pointers weren’t about to let them spoil the rematch.
First, it was senior shortstop Eli Montgomery who launched a home run, a ball that cleared the high fence in left field. Later it was fellow senior Griffin Ice who blasted a ball in nearly the same area. But to his surprise, Ice came up later and hit another high and deep home run. Each player totaled three RBIs in the game.
The Pointers scored five runs in the second inning to open up a big lead that became a 9-0 whipping.
Other RBIs went to Dickinson and junior second baseman Adrian Gomez. Garrison threw five innings of one-hit ball with Frost and Taylor closing the game.
Parents, siblings, and relatives came onto the field following the game as players lingered for more photos and celebrating.
Now, it’s on to the postseason.
EXTRA INNINGS
Parents of underclassmen organized a wonderful “Senior Day” celebration for the team’s nine graduating players and their families. Mothers received flowers and each player walked to home plate with family members for a photo. Memories written by the seniors were read along with future plans as underclassmen cheered them on from the dugout.
The annual banquet for all players (70) and families in the program is scheduled for June 3 on the spacious open area at Shelter Island’s Bali Hai restaurant. Each team, including freshmen and junior varsity, will be honored.
Three Pointer seniors have younger brothers in the program. Matthew Cleator (brother Ryan),
Ice (brother Owen) and Dickinson (brother Koa).
