https://www.davisenterprise.com/sports/tough-luck-for-devils-in-delta-baseball-opener/
Sports
Tough luck for Devils in Delta baseball opener
ELK GROVE — There isn’t an easy out in this league.
Despite another brilliant pitching performance from left-handed junior Tyler Mortensen, errors did in Davis High in a 3-2 Delta League-opening baseball loss at Pleasant Grove.
In a pitcher’s duel that went eight innings, Mortensen allowed two hits, walked one and fanned eight in his sterling seven innings on the mound.
But it was a couple of last-inning errors with hard-luck reliever Ryan Holgate on the mound that did in the locals.
“It was a tough loss for us,” said DHS coach Dan Ariola, who lost this one to his old Blue Devil colleague, skipper Rob Rinaldi. “I thought we competed well early. Couldn’t quite get the big hit. Left some kids on early.”
As Mortensen was mowing down nine Pleasant Grove hitters in row to start the game, Davis squandered chances in their first and second innings.
The Devils (7-2, 0-1) left the bases loaded in the first, then had two on and one out an inning later. No love either time.
Finally, in the third, DHS broke through on Eagle starter Connell Ellner.
Tyler Mundy opened with a single. After two were out, John Lagattuta extended the frame with a walk. Then Nick Vogt lashed the first Ellner pitch he saw into the great beyond for a two-run triple.
The way Mortensen was pitching, it looked like more than enough.
But an error on an Isiah Lissade drive to center was cashed in when Amaury Reed’s single broke up Mortensen’s no-hitter. A batter later, a sacrifice fly by Jacob Harris ended the shutout.
The Eagles tied things when a lead-off, sixth-inning walk to Lissade was converted into a score.
Pleasant Grove got one more runner off Mortensen, Caleb Clausen tapping out a seventh-inning single. But he was immediately thrown out attempting to steal.
Davis had made noise in the top of the frame, but with two on and one out, PGHS forced the Devils to hit into a double play.
Since the fifth inning, Evan Cogswell had been on the mound for the Eagles and saved his best inning for last, downing the Devils 1-2-3 to set up the unearned victory run in the bottom of the eighth.
“Tyler threw really well. When we got that lead, we really needed to add on,” Ariola pointed out. “Pleasant Grove made some nice plays. It was the kind of game you’d expect in the Delta League. Everyone’s solid. At least six good teams.
“Every night you have to be able to bounce back.”
Davis will now see if they can do that.
On Thursday, this time Pleasant Grove calls on Davis. Game time is 4 p.m. Ariola says he hasn’t decided between Ryan Bell or Holgate as his starting pitcher.
Then on Friday, it’s a 7 p.m. contest at Sacramento City College with Sheldon.
Beginning next Monday and going through April 13, Davis High returns to the Boras Classic at McAuliffe Field, adjacent Sacramento State.
The Devils won the north division of the tournament before falling in the state championship game to Mira Costa a month later.
Despite another brilliant pitching performance from left-handed junior Tyler Mortensen, errors did in Davis High in a 3-2 Delta League-opening baseball loss at Pleasant Grove.
In a pitcher’s duel that went eight innings, Mortensen allowed two hits, walked one and fanned eight in his sterling seven innings on the mound.
But it was a couple of last-inning errors with hard-luck reliever Ryan Holgate on the mound that did in the locals.
“It was a tough loss for us,” said DHS coach Dan Ariola, who lost this one to his old Blue Devil colleague, skipper Rob Rinaldi. “I thought we competed well early. Couldn’t quite get the big hit. Left some kids on early.”
As Mortensen was mowing down nine Pleasant Grove hitters in row to start the game, Davis squandered chances in their first and second innings.
Finally, in the third, DHS broke through on Eagle starter Connell Ellner.
Tyler Mundy opened with a single. After two were out, John Lagattuta extended the frame with a walk. Then Nick Vogt lashed the first Ellner pitch he saw into the great beyond for a two-run triple.
The way Mortensen was pitching, it looked like more than enough.
But an error on an Isiah Lissade drive to center was cashed in when Amaury Reed’s single broke up Mortensen’s no-hitter. A batter later, a sacrifice fly by Jacob Harris ended the shutout.
The Eagles tied things when a lead-off, sixth-inning walk to Lissade was converted into a score.
Pleasant Grove got one more runner off Mortensen, Caleb Clausen tapping out a seventh-inning single. But he was immediately thrown out attempting to steal.
Davis had made noise in the top of the frame, but with two on and one out, PGHS forced the Devils to hit into a double play.
Since the fifth inning, Evan Cogswell had been on the mound for the Eagles and saved his best inning for last, downing the Devils 1-2-3 to set up the unearned victory run in the bottom of the eighth.
“Tyler threw really well. When we got that lead, we really needed to add on,” Ariola pointed out. “Pleasant Grove made some nice plays. It was the kind of game you’d expect in the Delta League. Everyone’s solid. At least six good teams.
“Every night you have to be able to bounce back.”
On Thursday, this time Pleasant Grove calls on Davis. Game time is 4 p.m. Ariola says he hasn’t decided between Ryan Bell or Holgate as his starting pitcher.
Then on Friday, it’s a 7 p.m. contest at Sacramento City College with Sheldon.
Beginning next Monday and going through April 13, Davis High returns to the Boras Classic at McAuliffe Field, adjacent Sacramento State.
The Devils won the north division of the tournament before falling in the state championship game to Mira Costa a month later.
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