Monarch Wins Opener 11-2 Over Hollywood Hills

In the season opener for both teams, the Monarch Knights scored early and often, posting three runs in each of the first three innings on their way to an 11-2 triumph over the Spartans of Hollywood Hills.

Lead-off hitter Kenny Finley started the days extra-base hit parade, lining the first pitch down the left field line for a double.  Michael Stokes followed with a booming RBI triple to center field scoring Finley with the first run of the game. 

Stokes came home on Bobby Jakubek’s RBI sac fly, followed by a Jarrod Walker RBI single. That made the score 3-0 after one inning. Hills scored an unearned run in the second, the key hit being Daniel Pena’s double to right.

The Knights came back with a trio of second inning doubles. Josh Mila’s RBI double scored Nick Sposa, who opened the frame hooking a double down the right field line.  Nick Alonzo scored Mila and Finley, who had drawn a walk, stroking yet another double, to take a 6-1 lead.

Of the four doubles, one triple and solo home run on the game, coach Joe Franco had this to say, “I expected our offense to hit. I just didn’t expect our power hitting to come this early (in the season.) I expect us to move runners around. Today we got plenty of timely hitting, so I was very excited to see on the very first day what we can do with our offense.”

A one out third inning walk to Brian George, followed by an error, Finley’s two-run single and Stoke’s RBI single, pushed Monarch’s lead to a 9-1 after three.

Jakubek picked up his second RBI of the game, jacking a homer over the right field fence leading off the bottom of the fourth inning, stretching Monarch’s  lead to 10-1.

Hills scored their second run in the top of the fifth and Monarch countered in their half of the inning with Mila notching his second RBI of the game to close out the scoring. Franco was impressed that his team executed the game plan.

“Pitching and defense are our motto.,” said the Monarch head coach.

Defensive stand-out, third baseman Stokes, ended the Spartans one out first inning rally, snaring a laser shot off the bat of Kyle Casey and turning an unassisted double play. In the next frame he bare-handed a slow roller up the line to nail Francisco Pena in a bang-bang at first. Again in the third inning Stokes, spoiled a Hills scoring threat, making an over-the-shoulder circus catch, once again robbing Casey of an RBI.

Commenting on starter David Webb’s performance, Franco had this to say, “The guy we started today is a junior, just coming off Tommy John surgery (11 months ago).  He was on a pitch count and he did well.”  Webb’s line reads: 3.2 innings – one unearned run allowed with four strikeouts and one free pass issued. 

For coach Charlie Cardinal’s Spartans, the offense was led by short stop Tommy Grant and second baseman Austin Hille, each of whom banged out a pair of singles in three at bats.  Pitcher Jon Vasquez added  a sixth inning double.

Webb notched the win for Monarch, while Vasquez took the loss for Hollywood Hills.

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