By Dan Gudino
Baseball was eliminated from playoff contention after it was swept in a three-game series by Pasadena City College, finishing at Brookside Park’s Jackie Robinson Memorial Field on Saturday in a 5-0 loss.
East Los Angeles College is now on a six-game losing streak and it marks the fourth time this season the Huskies have been swept in a series.
“I come out here feeling good everyday. I don’t know what these guys (ELAC players) are thinking. We’re playing baseball and some guys are taking it for granted. There’s no sense of urgency.” ELAC head coach James Hines said.
In the three-game series ELAC was bombarded with 25 runs, as the Huskies only scored three.
In the final game ELAC failed to score and Pasadena was crowned South Coast Conference-North Champions, its first title in 45 years.
ELAC’s sophomore right fielder, Kyle Francis, was the most productive player of the day, going 3 for 3, hitting three singles and walked once.
Freshman Ryan Orozco, in his second start of the season displayed a poor performance.
Orozco was pegged with all five Pasadena runs, in six innings, walking two and striking out two.
In the third inning Orozco conceded a home run blasted to left field, by PCC’s left fielder, Shane Ogata. It was Orozco’s second allowed homer of the year.
Last Thursday in a 4-2 loss at home, ELAC held a 2-1 lead into the third inning, but PCC took back the lead for good, when PCC first baseman Jeremy Conant, lifted a two-run slam over the right field fence, taking a 3-2 lead.
ELAC pitcher Alex Carrillo, who is considered the team’s ace, who has been far from terrific, has two wins this season and recorded his sixth loss of the season. Carrillo recorded the most innings he’s pitched all season long, going eight innings.
Last Tuesday, in game one of the series, the season turned for the worse and was a sign the season would go without a playoff berth, with ELAC losing 16-1 at Robinson Memorial.
It was ELAC’s worst loss of the season and its worst in six seasons. This will mark the second straight season that ELAC will not make the playoffs.
Utility man freshman Matthew Sosa finishes the season as the top hitter on the team, finished with the most team hits (54), most runs (30) and best batting average at .349.
On the pitching side, sophomore Richard Escobedo had the most reliable arm this season.
Escobedo had the most pitching appearances with 17 and allowed 15 runs, striking out 35 in 45 innings of work. He finished with the best earned run average among those who appeared in five or more games at 2.30.
Escobedo according to three other players has the best opportunity to play at the next level of all players. The best overall player this year was sophomore outfielder Kyle Francis.
Francis was the most versatile player on the team, playing in the outfield, pitched when called to, and strictly hit as a designated hitter in games and played some first base too.
ELAC defeated Cerritos College 6-5 at Cerritos. The Huskies will play their final game of the season at home tomorrow at 6 p.m.
catcher Christopher Gomez yesterday ina 6-5 win. C/N Diego Linares