San Marcos began its Channel League baseball season by making a big statement on Friday, beating visiting Santa Barbara High 11-5 for the Royals’ first win over the Dons since 2005.
The Royals racked up 16 hits and batted around in a 4-run fourth inning, getting a solid start on the mound from Nick Stathopoulos. The senior entered the sixth inning with a 10-2 lead, having given up five hits. He faltered a bit in the inning and was charged with three runs before giving way to David Kim, who recorded the final six outs.
Stathopoulos’ day at the plate was impressive, as he went 3-for-4 with a double, two singles, three RBIs and a run scored. Shane Wieland and Kim also had 3-hit games for the Royals.
San Marcos' Shane Wieland slides home safely behind Dons catcher Colin Eaton.
“The mentality (on offense) was to not try to do too much, and just stay within ourselves,” said Stathopoulos. “We’re a good hitting team.”
San Marcos had two stellar defensive plays that proved to be momentum-killers for the Dons. After the Royals got two runs off of Santa Barbara starter Danny Zandona in the bottom of the first, the Dons responded as Zandona knocked a one-out single that was followed by a deep homer to center from Trey Barrett.
Cameron Gniadek drew a two-out walk and stole second, and Joey Gonzales knocked a single to center that appeared deep enough for Gniadek to score.
Wieland, however, rifled a two-hop throw from center that barely beat him to the plate and prevented the Dons from taking the lead.
Gonzales was robbed of an extra-base hit in the fourth, when Lino Reveles made a Mays-esque over-the-shoulder basket catch in left field to end the inning and strand a runner.
“I think those were momentum-turners, because they had rallies going. They hit the ball hard,” said San Marcos coach Rob Crawford. “It was on both side of the ball for us today, so a very good day.”
Dons coach Fred Warrecker chalked it up to the Royals having a day where it all came together.
“I would say that this was their day, you know what I mean? There were so many balls that were gappers — I’m not saying they were lucky,” he said. “We did not play well in right field today, and that was worth probably about four or five runs… If you’re around baseball long enough, there are just certain games that aren’t yours.”
San Marcos’ big fourth inning was the result of six singles and a walk. Nick Villegas got an RBI triple in the fifth, and was then brought home on a Wieland single. Wieland was caught trying to steal second, but Shane Moore followed up with a two-out double and was brought in by his brother, Riley, who hits in the 3-hole for the Royals.
“They won and they deserved it, but we’re gonna play ’em two more times,” said Warrecker. “This was a great start for them today to beat us. We just have to regroup.”
Both teams are back in action Saturday, as Santa Barbara (4-1-1, 0-1) plays at El Camino and San Marcos (4-2, 1-0) is at Lompoc.
SAN MARCOS 11, SANTA BARBARA 5
Santa Barbara…020 003 0 — 5 10 0
San Marcos…201 431 x — 11 16 2
Zandona, Dewell (4), Below (5), Crawford (6) and Eaton. Stathopoulos, Kim (6) and RMoore.
2B — SM: Wieland, SMoore, Stathopoulos, Kim. 3B — SM: Villegas. HR — SB: Barrett (2nd inn., one on).
Team records — SB 4-1-1, 0-1. SM 4-2, 1-0.
