Calvary Chapel Helps Improve Its Chances for a League Title

No one is celebrating yet at Calvary Chapel, but it’s going to be difficult for the other Olympic League teams to deny the Eagles a second straight league title.

Brethren Christian was Calvary Chapel’s closest pursuer, and the Warriors threw away--literally--a chance to pressure the Eagles by losing, 8-2, at home on Tuesday.

Calvary Chapel (14-4, 10-0) has a three-game lead over Brethren Christian (12-7, 7-3) with five games to play. It was Calvary Chapel’s second victory over the Warriors this season. Their final head-to-head meeting will be Friday.

Warrior Coach Dave Posthuma did not want his players to treat the two games as a “do-or-die” series. But Brethren Christian still made mistakes at crucial times, none more key than in the seventh.

The score was still close, 4-2, when Calvary’s first two hitters reached on an error and the third of Dustin Barrett’s three singles (two of them bunts).

Dallas Kruse dropped a sacrifice bunt toward third. Warrior starter Erik Jensen (3-2) picked up the ball and threw toward second, but no one was there.

Chad Sterben and Barrett scored. Joe de la Fuente, playing his second game since returning from a knee injury, put the game further out of reach with a two-run single off Edgar Fermin.

That was plenty of cushion for Eagle starter John Tucker (7-2). The sophomore right-hander struggled early, but gave up no runs after Sean Ireland’s two-run double in the first. Tucker pitched a four-hitter, walking two and striking out seven.

Kenny Nash, one of seven seniors who start for Calvary Chapel, drove in three runs to raise his season total to 20.