Martin, Master’s Strike Back at Christ College

In two games earlier this season, The Master’s College baseball team was pounded by Christ College of Irvine and stopped by its sophomore pitcher, Gary Sussman.

The Mustangs, however, stomped Christ College, 7-2, in the first game of the NAIA District 3 tournament Thursday at Azusa Pacific. Master’s will play Azusa Pacific in the second round of the double-elimination event today at 12:30 p.m.

Sussman proved to be no mystery to Master’s in his third appearance against the Mustangs. After walking two and allowing a single by Russ Henzie to load the bases with none out in the first inning, he surrendered a grand slam to sophomore Andy Martin.

Martin, a left-handed hitter, stroked Sussman’s first offering--a high fastball down the middle of the plate.

“Normally, I’m not one to swing at those high pitches,” Martin said. “But with three men on, I just wanted to hit it hard and get at least one in.”

Martin did not have to settle for a sacrifice fly. The ball soared over the fence, 355 feet away in right-center, and landed on Alosta Avenue.

“It felt great,” Martin said of his 12th homer of the season, which broke the school record of 11 that he shared with Jeff Holen (1988), Peter Wilson (1989) and Jeff Preston (1989).

Martin’s blast spelled the end for Sussman, who led the Eagles to 11-1 and 17-7 victories over Master’s during the regular season.

In relief of Sussman, Armando Diaz allowed just one run over the next five innings, a run-scoring double by shortstop Craig Johnson that scored Henzie from first base in the second inning.

Christ College (29-16) pulled within three runs at 5-2 in the fourth inning on consecutive singles by Robert Campillo and Lonny Zimmerman and a double by Diaz.

In the top of the seventh, the Eagles threatened with two out when Master’s freshman starter Chris Beck walked three consecutive batters.

Beck was relieved by left-hander Sam Minyard, who induced District 3 most valuable player Mike Adams to ground to shortstop, allowing Johnson to feed second baseman Brent Sostrom for the force at second base.

“I knew all about Adams and if that wasn’t enough, our catcher (Dan O’Sullivan) came out and told me that he (Adams) could hit my fastball,” said Minyard, who admitted to a case of the jitters.

Taking O’Sullivan at his word, Minyard threw a slider inside, jamming Adams.

“Sam has great concentration in a tough situation,” Master’s Coach Chris Harrison said.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Mustangs (24-18) increased their lead by two runs, chasing Diaz on singles by Henzie and Martin and a two-run single by O’Sullivan.