Titans Can’t Hold Early Two-Run Lead, Drop Key Rio Hondo League Contest
Perhaps a Titan could tell us what is worse; losing to Monrovia, or losing to Monrovia just three hours after the beginning of spring break, affording eleven days to ponder the defeat.
Answer: All of the above. Or any of the above.
Whatever your choice, there’s little debate this won’t sting for a while as San Marino squandered a 2-0 lead last Friday afternoon and the Wildcats rallied for a 6-2 victory, which ended the Titans’ perfect 14-0 beginning to the 2016 campaign. Monrovia also claimed a 1-game lead after the first full round of Rio Hondo League action.
“I would rather face this now than later in the season,” said San Marino Coach Mack Paciorek. “This brought a couple issues to the surface that we still have time to address.”
Senior Carson Glazier loaded the bases to start the game before enticing Monrovia’s next four batters into a fielder’s choice, pop up and grounder to maintain the scoreless frame. The Titans got on the board in the bottom of the second when third baseman Ruben Garcia led off with a triple, followed by Ben Capouya’s RBI single over the head of Monrovia second baseman Marcelo Vega.
San Marino dodged another scare in the top of the fifth when the ‘Cats put runners on second and third, extracting Trevor Davis from the Titan bullpen. The junior walked the bases loaded before ending the inning with a strikeout, bringing the home crowd to their feet.
San Marino doubled their lead in the bottom of the fifth when designated hitter Michael Won smashed a single to right field, stole second and came home on a base hit by senior shortstop Bryson Smith to give the hosts a 2-0 advantage.
It wasn’t enough.
Monrovia tied it up in the top of the sixth on a lone single by centerfielder Gabriel Arrellano and some shoddy defensive play by the Titans. Capouya singled in the bottom of the frame, but was stranded at second base. He might wish he had stayed there as Monrovia continued to cash in on Titan miscues and liberal baserunning restrictions to take a 6-2 lead.
Deflated, San Marino couldn’t answer in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Titans had their first loss, heading to spring break at 14-1 overall, 3-1 in the Rio Hondo League.
The Titans travel to Claremont on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m.
La Cañada visits on Wednesday, April 13 to open the second round of league action.
The Wildcats and Titans will split home games later in the schedule.
