COD (2-3) jumped out to an early lead, then exploded for six runs in the fourth and for runs in the fifth as the Roadrunners rolled, knocking off the East Los Angeles Huskies of Monterey Park (2-3), 14-6.

Desert took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but the Huskies would climb back into the game with a run in the second and a pair of runs in the third, to give the visitors a 3-2 going into the bottom of the third. Some heads up base running and key contact at the plate, added two more runs in the third for the Roadrunners, taking a 4-3 lead and after East Los Angeles tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the fourth, the home side would do some offensive damage.

Desert would send ten men to the plate in the fourth to blow the game wide open, scoring six runs and taking a 10-4 lead. The Roadrunners would add to that total in the fifth, as they sent eight to the plate, scoring four more runs and taking a ten runs lead, 14-4. The Huskies would add two runs in the top half of the eighth.

Sophomore third baseman Mario Ramirez (Rancho Mirage H.S.) had a perfect day at the plate, going 5 for 5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in out of the four hole in the lineup.

Freshman right handed starting pitcher Kazuma Oura (Kashiwa (JPN) Ryuetsu Keizai Kashiwa High) had five innings of work, surrendering four runs, three earned on five hits, walking three and striking out eight and grabbed his first win of 2020.

The one through five batters in the Desert lineup had 14 of the 20 hits on the evening for the Roadrunners.

Freshman left fielder and leadoff hitter Clayton Smith (Yucca Valley H.S.) went 3 for 5 with three runs scored and an RBI and sophomore center fielder Joshua Hernandez (Palm Desert H.S.) went 2 for 5 with three runs scored.

Sophomore second baseman Christopher Burke (Temecula Valley) went 2 for 3 with three runs scored and an RBI and sophomore first baseman Brandon Zwiener (Millard West, NE) went 2 for 3 with a run scored and two RBI's in the win.

Freshman shortstop Spencer Dickinson (Rancho Mirage H.S.) went 1 for 3 with four RBI's and freshman catcher Kentaro Yoshida (Nagano (JPN) Suwa Senior H.S.) went 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI. Sophomore designated hitter Phillip Dimas (Tanque Verde, AZ) went 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI out of the nine hole.

Freshman right handed relief pitcher Taishin Matsushita (Kofu (JPN) Kofu Senior H.S.) tossed three innings of relief, giving up two runs on three hits, striking out three and freshman right handed relief pitcher Atsushi Kataoka (Osaka (JPN) Mino Jiyu Gakuen) wrapped things up in the top of the ninth.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com).