With momentum switches in every game, the Compton College baseball team opened 2024 South Coast Conference play with a hard-fought, 3-game series v. LA Harbor College Feb. 22-26.
Compton (2-9 overall record) lost two of the three games, but held a 4-0 lead in the opener only to fall 7-4, then rallied from down 8-4 in the seventh to win the middle contest, 11-8. In the finale, the two teams battled 11 innings with Harbor prevailing, 3-2, in a rain makeup on Monday at Compton's MLB Youth Academy Stadium.
In the conference opener on Feb. 22, letterman starting pitcher Joseph Giunta struck out nine batters and had blanked Harbor over the first six innings. But the Seahawks rallied for all seven of their runs in the seventh. After Giunta was replaced by a reliever, late outfield replacement Brandon Lepe slugged a 3-run homer that proved put Harbor over the top.
For Compton, designated hitter Jalen Ringwood batted 2-for-5 with a double, first baseman Emmanuel Morales was 2-for-4 while catcher Emilio Morales (no relation to Emmanuel) was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
In the second game on Feb. 24, Harbor opened a 5-0 lead, but Compton chipped away with three runs before the Seahawks added three in the top of the seventh. In bottom of the frame, centerfielder Elias Pacheco launched a RBI triple and third baseman Isaac Vega singled him in to cut the lead to 8-7.
In the eighth, Emilio Morales ripped a 2-run double, then Pacheco singled in two more as Compton completed the comeback. Pacheco was 3-for-5 with four RBI overall. Gabriel Lizarraga pitched two innings of 3-hit relief (one run) and struck out three to earn the mound win while John Stangl pitched the ninth for the save.
In Monday's finale, rightfielder Deegan Grgas hit a RBI infield single to second that brought in Emilio Morales who had doubled earlier in the inning to tie it 2-2 after eight frames. A bases-loaed walk drawn by Julian Galvan in the top of the 11th proved to the winning run for the Seahawks.
Compton received sterling efforts from starting pitcher Jacob Ramirez, who allowed just six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over eight innings (no decision), and Stangl, who pitched two no-hit relief innings with four Ks.
Ringwood, Emilio Morales and Pacheco all had two hits in the defeat.
Compton's other highlight thus far in non-conference play was a 7-6, 11-inning win at Irvine Valley on Feb. 14. Shortstop Vinny Avalos slugged a solo home run for a 4-3 Compton lead in the fourth. Tied 4-4 after 10 innings, Compton broke through with three runs, taking advantage of two Lasers' errors and wildness by IVC pitching in getting hit by a pitch on consecutive batters. Ringwood was plunked with the bases loaded for the team's seventh run.
That came in handy in the bottom of the 11th as Irvine Valley scored twice before reliever Jessejames Ojeda earned the save by striking out the final batter with the potential tying run at second base. Stangl got the victory with 2.1 relief innings, allowing two unearned runs and striking out four.
After 11 games, Emmanuel Morales is batting .391 to lead the team in hitting. Despite an 0-4 record, Giunta has been the team's most effective starter with 28 strikeouts (fourth currently in the SCC) and a 1.26 WHIP in 20.2 innings.
Directed by head coach Shannon Williams in his 21st season, Compton continues conference play with a 3-game series this week v. defending South Coast champion El Camino College.
COMPTON 2024 BASEBALL SCHEDULE