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Sports

Errors Costly as Redondo Union Loses Sixth in a Row

West Torrance takes advantage of the Sea Hawks' mistakes on the infield and puts together a nine-run inning.

Defensive woes have hurt Redondo Union High all year and in the fifth inning of a 12-9 loss to West Torrance on Friday, the infield defense gave the Warriors some extra outs and that was all they needed to put together a devastating nine-run inning.

Sea Hawks pitcher Chris Jump was able to get out of a bases- loaded jam in the second inning and received some much needed support when right fielder Travis Fischvogt homered to right field to give the Sea Hawks a 3-0 lead, something that has been sorely missing for Redondo (9-14) during a six-game losing skid.

"It was a change of pace early getting the lead. It's always good to get runners on base and capitalize on it," said Coach Mike Whitcher, who is filling in this week while Bradey Thurman is on a leave of absence.

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But to start the fifth, Warriors pitcher Daniel Timmerman helped his cause, hitting a home run. He would get a lot more help as Ricky Sato singled, stole a base and then reached third after getting in a rundown that went awry when a throw hit him.

Jump then would coax a ground ball out, but Sato would score to even things up at 3. Jump then allowed a single and walked the bases loaded. From there, things got dicey defensively as Daniel Marquez made a throwing error, which lead to two more runs. Jump got a good opportunity for a double play with a grounder to shortstop, where Alex Mistuloff got a force on the lead runner, but his throw was too much for first baseman Alfredo Camacho to handle. Instead of being out of the inning, the Warriors would tack on three more runs before the nine-run inning came to a close. 

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"Chris did a good job keeping the ball down and changing speeds," Whitcher said. "We just didn't make the plays behind him defensively and that fifth inning was just too much to overcome."

Jump added his perspective. "It's routine plays that we are just not making right now. We're being a bit too eager and not getting set on some throws," he  said. 

The Sea Hawks kept fighting in the bottom of the fifth, when Marquez scored on a triple by Nick Ridio. With two outs, Dylan Hatch ripped a pitch to center for a triple of his own, driving in Ridio for the fifth run.

"I've been hitting the ball pretty well this season, but I don't get many triples. I was tired after running that out," Hatch said. "Offensively we had a good day. We just need to focus on defense and be more sharp."

In the sixth, Matt Esparza reached base after he hit a ball and the outfielders collided trying to catch it. He would score on an errant throw. Ridio would add an RBI single and Jump would get the third Sea Hawks triple of the game, knocking in two more runs and pulling within one at10-9. Jump was stranded on third, however, as Jake Jimenez grounded out and Hatch struck out. 

That was the closest it would get, as the Warriors would tack on two more runs in the seventh and finish with a 12-9 win.

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