Coach Sheldon Phillip-Guide pulled out all the stops March 25 against the South High Spartans to help Santa Monica High School Vikings get their first win of the season by giving sophomore, Danny Galvin his first pitching start. Galvin went five respectable innings managing to keep the Vikings close, leaving game trailing just 4-3.
Senior Andrew Mcritchie took the ball from him in the sixth and pitched two strong innings to close out the game – not giving up any more runs – to get the win when the Vikings came from behind.
With the Vikings trailing 4-3 in the sixth, they loaded the bases and senior Ruben Fajardo came to the plate. Fajardo hit a long drive to the left field gap and two runs scored. His brother, senior Raul Fajardo was on first and also tried to score on the hit but was gunned down at the plate on a close play. But it was enough for the Vikings who were now leading 5-4.
“Our bats are starting to come around. That was some clutch hitting by Fajardo and that’s what’s been missing this year. We haven’t hit with runners in scoring position”, said Coach Philip-Guide. “It’s a good start and one that I’m hoping we can start to build upon.”
The other big hit with runners in scoring position came in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Mason Landis doubled home a run.
Next week, the Vikings play a lot of baseball with a make up the game that was rained out on Saturday, to be played on Mon., March 28, against North High School at North; followed by games at Santa Monica High on Tues., March 29, against Notre Dame Sherman Oaks High School, then Thurs., March 31 against Palos Verdes High School and then Sat., April 2, against Crescenta Valley, which is the start of the Babe Herman Tournament at Stengel Field in Glendale. All the games start at 3:15 p.m. except for the Crescenta Valley game, which starts at 7 p.m.
