Bats Carry Mariner Tritons To District Win Over Island Coast

The Mariner Tritons hosted the Island Coast Gators Tuesday night in the first match-up in a home-and-home series between 6A-11 rivals. With both teams looking to rebound from their previous game, it was the Tritons who won comfortably 6-2 behind an efficient offense.

The Tritons (2-2) got going early in the bottom of the first inning. Senior outfielder Mason Eicher swung at the first pitch he saw and sent it past the shortstop to lead off the inning. Eicher advanced into scoring position on a fielding error that allowed Justin Waibel to reach base. Eicher moved to third when teammate Christian Velez was hit by a pitch by Gators’ pitcher David Mata, and he later scored on an RBI groundout by senior Steven Grigiski.

After going down in order in the bottom of the second, the Tritons bats heated up again in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore infielder Nolan Byers led off the inning with a line drive to center field. Justin Waibel also lined a single into center field to put runners on first and second. Senior Christian Velez once again loaded the bases when he was hit for the second time in as many plate appearances. Grigiski came up with the bases loaded and showed great plate discipline as he worked a seven-pitch walk to bring home the second run for the Tritons.

Junior Andrew Arsenault grounded into a fielders choice that scored Waibel from third and moved Velez to third where he would later cross the plate on an error by the Gators infield to make it 4-0. The Tritons would later add two runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 6-0.

The Gators (1-3) didn’t go down without a fight. The top of the seventh inning began with a fly ball out to center field but the next batter, senior Anthony Churlin, worked a five-pitch walk to reach base. Next up was Felix Camacho, who sent a 2-2 pitch deep into center field for a home run to breath some life into the Gators team. but it was short lived, as the next two batters flied out to center fielder Mason Eicher to end the rally.

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