Though it didn’t come in a league game, Trey Barrett’s ninth-inning homer at Granada Hills in the Chatsworth Tournament on Saturday was very, very important.
“It was the kind of game that a season can end on,” said assistant coach Mike Cooney. “It was a gut-grinder of a game.”
Barrett’s two-strike, two-out solo homer proved to be the game-winner for the Santa Barbara High baseball team, which won 6-5. After two losses in as many days to Dos Pueblos, it was a win the Dons desperately needed to get back on track.
“We were facing the prospect of a three-loss week, and it showed a lot of character for them to pull this one out,” said Cooney.
Collin Dewell pitched five innings of relief allowing just two runs, improving his record to 4-0. He also had a double. Pepe Gil had a pair of hits and Cameron Gniadek had three singles. The Dons (16-3) had a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, but Granada Hills mounted a two-out rally to tie it up.
Santa Barbara hosts Ventura on Tuesday in a battle for first place in the Channel league. The Cougars are currently a half game ahead of the Dons.
SANTA BARBARA 6, GRANADA HILLS 5 (9)
Santa Barbara…100 002 2 01 — 6 10 1
Granada Hills…100 020 2 00 —5 9 1
Spatz, Dewell (5) and Eaton. Acosta Mateko (8) and Merrill, McCarron (8).
2B — SB: Crummer, Dewell. GH Rodriguez, Pyle. HR — Barrett (9th inn., Solo)
GH: 10-10, SB: 16-3.
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