Loyola tops Chaminade 5-2

After a 9-2 win against Granada Hills High School on Saturday, the Chaminade High School baseball team looked to get over the .500 mark in league against Loyola High School. University of Washington commit Tommy Costello (’16) was on the mound for the Eagles, going up against the University of Southern Carlifornia commit Henry Stellwagen (’15).

Chaminade junior and team USA member Blake Rutherford started things off in the first inning with a home run over right field to put the Eagles up 1-0. Costello was yet to give up a hit through the first two innings, and was also getting it done with the bat. Costello had two singles, including one that sent Dallas Tessar home to tie the game 2-2 in the fourth inning.  

Costello slowed down as the game went on, giving up two straight singles to start off the fifth inning, and then a RBI double later in the inning that gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead.  

The Eagles got some great opportunities late in the game to potentially tie it up, or even take the lead. Rutherford, the team’s most powerful hitter, was up to bat in the fifth inning with two outs, and two runners on base. The future UCLA commit made solid contact, but the center fielder hardly had to move to catch the final out of the inning.

Another opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth, still down 3-2, as Nick Kahle, Blake Solis, and Costello—three of the team’s elite hitters—were the order to start off the bottom of the inning. Stellwagen sat them all down, keeping his team in the lead going into the seventh inning.  

Costello continued to show signs of fatigue, and it was most evident in the last inning. The Cubs had bases loaded, as Costello hit two batters, with one of their best hitters, Awari Muoneke up to bat. Muoneke hit a deep double, sending two players home and giving the Cubs a comfortable three run cushion.  

Michael Tubbs started the attempted last inning comeback by getting walked, but the Eagles failed to record a hit for the rest of the inning and lost 5-2.  

The Eagles have had a disappointing start to the season, but are yet to be at full strength. Tessar has been dealing with an ankle injury the past few weeks, and is still recovering; he can only be a designated hitter until he is 100 percent. Aidan Dolan, a pitcher, recently ended basketball season, and is still getting into the mix of things. Lastly, Anthony Acosta, a talented second basemen, has to sit out a few more weeks due to CIF transfer rules. Once the Eagles have Tessar and Acosta back in the infield, this team could be a dangerous team in the playoffs. 

—Matt Patterson