Game Notes (CA): Orange Lutheran 3-Game Weekend
March 2, 2019
San Jose, CA - I was able to sit on the Orange Lutheran Lancers for three games over two days 2/22-23/19 as they matched up with the Carroll Dragons (South Lake, TX) for two on Friday 2/22/19 before playing host Valley Christian on Saturday 2/23/19. The Lancers went 3-0 over those three games and showed why they're our #1 team in the Power 25 with a lot of D1 Committed players in the lineup. Below is a recap of those games before breaking down a group of players who stood out.
Games Recap:
In Game 1 against the Carroll Dragons (South Lake, TX), 2020 RHP Christian Rodriguez took the bump and showed why he’s so highly regarded in our 2020 Rankings. He cruised through the first two innings before giving up a couple of hits to start the 3rd and loading the bases with a walk. He worked out of the innings with two big strikeouts to keep the Dragons off the board doing the same in the 4th working out of another bases loaded situation before exiting the game after two outs in the 5th. The Lancers offense got three in the 1st loading the bases on a hit and two walks and playing small ball with a sac fly and ground out to add their runs. That proved to be all the offense they would need, but added two insurance runs in the 3rd winning 5-0.
2019 RHP Jonathan Guzman started the 2nd game for the Lancers looking to match Rodriguez and keeping the Dragons off the board for two innings. In the 3rd, back-to-back walks and a couple sac-fly out scored the first run of the day for the Dragons. That proved to be all the offense they would muster having a chance to score again in the 5th with runners on 1st and 3rd and 1 out but failing to get a big hit. The Lancers got on the board early again, scoring in the 1st with a HBP turning into a runner on 3rd due to a Stolen Base and passed ball before 2020 2B Max Rajcic drove a long fly to CF for the RBI. In the 4th, the Lancers offense strung together 5 straight base runners for 4 runs with Rajcic just missing a HR to LF and settling for a 2B and proving all the offense the Lancers would need taking the lead 5-0. They added a 6th run in the 5th inning with Rajcic driving in another run on a Sac Fly. That loss sent Carroll to 1-2 on the weekend and the Lancers on to face Valley Christian.
In the 3rd game of the weekend, the Lancers hopped out to an early 2-0 lead on doubles from 2020 2B Tank Espalin and 2019 LF Caden Connor stranding runners at 1st and 3rd. The offense would get another run in the 4th with back-to-back doubles by 2019 RF Carl Lawson and 2019 SS Karson Moore. 2020 RHP Max Rajcic gave up two in the 2nd to the Warriors but pitched out of a bases loaded jam to limit the damage. He settled in and cruised through the 3-5th innings with only a walk and single. In the 6th, a leadoff single and error at SS led to a sac bunt that ended Rajcic’s day. The Warriors tied it up with a ground out to score the run and send it tied into the Top of the 7th. Orange Lutheran got two runners on but picked up clutch hits from 2019 RHP Evan Adolphus and Lawson to take a 5-3 lead and end the weekend 3-0.
Inside are scouting notes and video along with some game notes on several players. College program and you don't have a subscription? Now seems like a good time to get one.
