Torrey Pines Proves Too Hot to Handle, Burns Grossmont

While Grossmont High School wilted, Torrey Pines ran.

Torrey Pines used its aggressive baserunning and a complete game by pitcher Aaron Mirandon to defeat Grossmont, 8-2, in an AA Division game of the 38th Lions-Mike Morrow baseball tournament Saturday at Hilltop High School.

Mirandon allowed one earned run and struck out nine to improve to 4-0 with three saves. Torrey Pines is 10-0.

While Torrey Pines and the weather stayed hot, Grossmont did not.

Starting pitcher Roy Neder lasted one inning, then came out of the game suffering from the heat. He returned to pitch in the fourth, but Torrey Pines had built a 4-1 lead.

Torrey Pines had six stolen bases in the first four innings, including three in the first that led to the Falcons’ first run.

“We have nine guys who can run a little,” said Frank Chambliss, Torrey Pines coach. “We try to bunt and run and use the hit-and-run. We try to make people make mistakes.”

Torrey Pines did all those things as it built a 5-1 lead after four innings.

After Neder allowed two walks and three stolen bases to open the game, Torrey Pines scored on an infield single by Mirandon.

Grossmont (5-5) tied the game at 1-1 on Neder’s two-out single, scoring Todd McCady, who had been hit on the foot by a Mirandon pitch to open the inning.

The sun struck Grossmont again after reliever Mark Gapski struck out the first two batters in the second and then allowed a double to left. Jason Wright hit a routine fly ball that right fielder Joe Donlon lost in the sun for another double, and Torrey Pines had a 2-1 lead.

A leadoff double and three Grossmont errors led to a two-run third and a 4-1 lead for Torrey Pines. That increased to 5-1 when Bob Kennedy opened the fourth with an infield single and stole second. Kennedy scored when John Lynch, the next batter, hit a ground-rule double off Neder, who had re-entered the game.

“The heat was bothering him,” said Ed Patterson, Grossmont coach. “We let him re-catch his breath. He worked out an hour before the game started. We just didn’t adjust to the playing conditions as well as we should have.”

Neder was coming off Grossmont’s biggest victory of the season, having held previously unbeaten Santana to three hits in a 10-1 victory in the Grossmont League opener Tuesday.

Trailing, 5-1, in the fifth, Grossmont had a chance to get back into the game.

Mike Rendina scored to make it 5-2 with one out when Bob McGriff, who was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored, dropped a fly ball in left field with the bases loaded.

Mirandon struck out Mike Ramsey and then faced Neder, who was 1 for 1 with a walk. Neder fouled off several pitches before hitting a fly ball to center fielder Tim Walker to end the inning.