With a final score of 13-1, the varsity baseball team (6-3) defeated the Arapahoe High School Warriors (1-6) in a home tournament game on Wednesday.
The Warriors jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning, scoring one run on a double, but the Falcons struck back in the bottom of the third inning with a run batted in RBI single by Camden Nishnick (11), the first baseman and outfielder.
After tying the score, the Falcons did not look back, as third baseman and pitcher Ethan Shi (11) hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning. In the fifth inning, the Falcons added three runs by getting hits and taking advantage of defensive errors committed by the Warriors, making the score 6-1. The Falcons locked in the win with a seven-run performance in the sixth.
Varsity head coach Chris Possemato praised the team’s ability to turn the tide of the game after giving up an early lead.
“It felt great,” Possemato said. “It was an interesting start, it was a little scary, and then they put together some really good at-bats and a couple of home runs and a lot of well-struck balls [and] pitching was really good.”
Nischnick explained his mindset during the game.
“We had good swings,” Nishnick said. “We knew eventually the balls were going to fall, so we … stayed true to our stuff and we knew it was going to work out.”
Trent Dolinsky (10), a pitcher and outfielder, also said that the team had an “attack” mindset, keeping their “pedal on the gas” until things worked out. Overall, Dolinsky believes that the team “competed” and “played well,” in a “really good team game.”
Catcher Albert Harris (12) shared some of his favorite moments.
“[I liked] the two home runs,” Harris said. “Cullen [Green] getting his first varsity home run, Mark [Vosloo] getting his first varsity hit. I thought it was good, everyone got in, everyone had a good game.”
Possemato highlighted individual performances, pointing to the game as a breakout moment for some players.
“Ethan Shi … I guess you could say he was struggling,” Possemato said. “To hit that home run, and he had another hit … that was big. Nishnick kind of broke out, not that he’s been doing badly, [but] he has been [struggling] so that was huge. Cullen Green crushed that home run, we had freshman [Vosloo] get his first hit and the other freshman [Dylan Hood] continues to impress us.”
The Falcons ended up winning by more than 10 runs, but Possemato thinks there is still work to be done during future practices
“We’ve got to clean up some defensive stuff,” Possemato said. “We made some pitcher fielding practice (PFP) communication mistakes today … our catchers [have] to do a better job on some of their throws.”
This game was different from most because the Warriors came from Arapahoe High School, located in Centennial, Colo. Despite playing a team from another state, Nishnick remained confident that the team had what it took to win.
“We come in every day knowing that we can win, that we can beat any team,” Nischnick said.
Harris noted some differences between local teams and the Warriors.
“I feel like some of the coaching decisions were a bit different; it was interesting to see, and they definitely had a different energy than [San Diegan teams].”
Possemato emphasized the importance of a win after a tough stretch of games, especially as the team prepares for the Lions Baseball Tournament.
“We played some really tough games,” Possemato said. “Then we bounced back against [La Costa Canyon], which was good, and then this was a nice win, and … hopefully [we] fare well in the Lions [Tournament], and then we’ll start league [games].”
