Lakewood took a 2-0 lead over Poly into the bottom of the sixth inning—in most Jackrabbits games this season, that would have been enough to ensure the Lancers a victory, and allow them to keep a perfect league record.  Instead, the ‘Rabbits brought their bats (as well as ace pitcher Mario Gordon) and put them to good use in a hard-fought inning that produced five runs, as they went on to win 5-3, in the biggest league upset so far this season.

Poly coach Toby Hess couldn’t have been much happier with his team’s performance after the game.  “I just like how they weren’t intimidated—Lakewood has been the gold standard for 40 years, and that can intimidate people.  At no point did we back down.”

The one ‘Rabbit who can always be counted on to battle is starting pitcher Mario Gordon, who was excellent in a complete performance, allowing three earned runs with five strikeouts.  Among the league’s elite, Gordon is guaranteed to keep the ‘Rabbits in a game.  He was glad to have his team hitting behind him late in the game.  “It makes me really, really comfortable—I don’t have to pitch tight, I can settle in.”

“Mario is definitely not going to be intimidated,” said Hess.  “That’s just what he has within his soul—he’s been that guy every year.”  But it wasn’t Gordon’s fire that propelled the ‘Rabbits to victory.

Lakewood got on the scoreboard first in the third with an RBI by Alex Padilla, and added the second in the fourth when Johnathan Worrell scored Jeff Yamaguchi.  And then…there was the bottom of the sixth.  Lakewood pitcher Matt Duffy had thrown well all game, allowing just two hits through the first five innings—but then Poly’s Daniel Cook led the inning off with a triple, followed by Kevin Nanbara’s RBI single.  After that, Lakewood coach Spud O’Neill pulled Duffy for Jeff Yamaguchi, who didn’t fare any better.

Henry Severson made Yamaguchi work from the get-go, fouling off six balls before earning a walk—then Yamaguchi threw four straight balls to Gordon, loading the bases with no outs.  Then Nikko Santos put one in play, and Duffy fielded it, tossed to the second basemen to get an out; the throw to first didn’t connect, as two runs scored, giving Poly the 3-2 lead.  Tyler Maxwell grounded out for out two, then Thomas Walker was hit by a pitch.  After Walker stole second, Jeff Turley Jr. stepped to the plate, and blasted a triple shot that scored another two runs, before being stranded when Jordan Wilcox struck out for out three.  Lakewood added a run in the seventh with Alex Padilla’s RBI double, but that was all they could muster as Gordon shut them down.

The win was Poly’s fourth straight win after a slow start, including their third straight league game, as they bounce to 3-2 in the Moore League—Hess hopes his team takes a lot away from the win.  “It’s better to teach lessons when they win,” he said.  Poly’s next teaching opportunity (in league) will come on Tuesday, April 21^st against Cabrillo.  Lakewood will have a chance to rebound from the loss, or dig their hole deeper, with a match against Millikan (who now have sole possession of first place by a whole game) on the Rams’ campus at 1:30pm.