Crespi Stops Chaminade at Fence, 6-5

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Taking advantage of Chaminade High’s short right-field fence, Dustin Slade hit two home runs and right fielder Mondo Contreras threw out three runners at first base to lead Crespi to a 6-5 Mission League baseball victory Tuesday.

“It was great,” center fielder Brian Horwitz said.

Slade’s three-run home run in the sixth inning over the 50-foot fence that’s 190 feet from home plate gave the Celts (12-1-1, 6-0-1 in league play) a 6-2 lead. Then came real suspense in the bottom of the sixth.

Starting pitcher Marshall Plouffe of Crespi gave up three consecutive singles to load the bases with none out and was pulled by Coach Scott Muckey. In came shortstop Dale Legaspi, who walked consecutive batters. Muckey then brought Plouffe back to the mound.

Justin Shore hit a one-hopper to the left of second baseman Slade, who fired the ball to catcher Matt Wilson for a force at the plate. Plouffe allowed a run on a wild pickoff attempt at third, but got out of the inning with consecutive strikeouts.

Chaminade (8-5, 4-3) had no chance in the seventh against reliever Clint Kofmehl, who has a 0.87 earned-run average. Kofmehl threw four pitches that resulted in three ground-ball outs to shortstop Legaspi.

Horwitz finished with three hits and Wilson and Contreras each had two.

Cody Haerther had a run-scoring double in the fourth to tie the score, 2-2, for Chaminade.

Slade, a junior who’s known as Crespi’s free spirit, surprised everyone with his throw home in the sixth.

“I guess I’m just a little original,” he said. “I don’t follow the crowd.”

Said Muckey: “I don’t know where he came up with that [throw].”

Slade hit a solo home run in the second.

Plouffe (6-1) didn’t mind Muckey’s decision to give him a second chance.

“I was kind of excited when he said to come back and throw,” Plouffe said. “I was throwing harder the second time.”