Prep baseball: Sage Hill settles for runner-up

NEWPORT COAST - Errors came back to haunt the Sage Hill High

baseball team, which committed six crucial errors in the championship

game of its tournament, the Sage Hill Classic, and lost, 8-3, to Windward

Saturday.

Though the Lightning (6-6) matched Windward (11-1) hit for hit, 7-7,

Sage Hill succumbed to four errors in the fourth that led to four runs

and a 7-1 deficit.

“We had two poor defensive innings and that made all the difference,”

said Sage Hill High Coach Chris Torino. “We were talking about this

(tournament) being an oasis for us. But we found out we would be missing

two players and we had more of a challenge. We came together and

responded. Hopefully, this is some momentum for us as we go back into

league.”

Junior Cliff Swanson led the Lightning with a 4-for-4 performance,

while sophomore Tim Wilkins pounded out a double and scored a run.

Wilkins, pitcher Zach Friedrichs and first baseman Jordan Salinger were

all-tournament choices.

Wilkins recorded 13 strikeouts to lead the Lightning to an 11-2

victory over Southlands Christian in the semifinals. Wilkins also crushed

a double and scored two runs, while Salinger went 3 for 4 with a walk,

three runs scored and a stolen base.

The Lightning resumes Academy League action Tuesday at 3:15 p.m.,

playing at Oxford Academy.

-- by Steve Virgen

SAGE HILL CLASSIC

Final

Windward 8, Sage Hill 3

Windward 103 400 0 - 8 7 1

Sage Hill 001 020 0 - 3 7 6

Wapnick and Brand; Friedrichs and Kornswiet. W - Wapnick, 1-0. L -

Friedrichs, 2-4. 2B - Wapnick (W), Emerson (W), Brand (W), Wilkins (SH).

Semifinal

Sage Hill 11, Southlands Christian 2

Southlands 000 011 - 2 3 1

Sage Hill 101 072 - 11 7 4 Olson, Roark (5) and Spitawick; Wilkins and Kornswiet. W - Wilkins,

3-2. L - Olson, 1-2. 2B - Sanchez (SC), River (SC), Salinger (SH),

Wilkins (SH), Friedrichs (SH).