Coming off a hard-fought extra inning game the night before the Eagles returned home Saturday for a morning match up with the Coronado Islanders. The Eagles were looking to return to the win column as they took on a division three opponent for the second day in a row. The Eagles battled but lost their second game of the season to the Islanders.
The day started out good for the Eagles as they took a one to nothing lead in the first when Maya Tyszkiewicz reached on a hit by pitch and Olivia Andreson walked. Maddie Binnie advanced Tyszkiewicz to third on a fielder’s choice. With runners on the corners Binnie got caught in a rundown going to second that allowed Tyszkiewicz to score. Torin Bennett was on the mound for SFC and stuck out four of the first six batters she faced.
The tide changed in the third as the Islanders got a one out walk and some help from the Eagles. All season long the Eagles have been a sure handed team in the field, but in the third inning they committed three uncharacteristic errors allowing the Islanders 3 runs. The Eagles closed the gap to 3 – 2 in the fourth when Bryn Henson led off with a double and Anderson walked. With two on Maddie Binnie lined a shot to right bringing home Henson to cut the lead to one.
The Islanders got back on the board in the fifth extending their lead to 5 to 3. Bennett set down the first batter of the inning but the Islanders then stringed together three hits and a sacrifice fly to bring home two more runs. Ali Perus and Lucy Kenny and Samantha Aldworth each had two hits to lead the Islanders, and all got one in the fifth.
Coronado picked up another run in the top of the sixth. The Eagles responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the stanza. Binnie continued her good day at the plate with a triple and Bennett brought her in with a single. Binnie was two for three on the day with one RBI and a run scored. Henson led the team with a three-hit performance in four at bats.
The Islanders added one more run in the top of the seventh to seal the win. For the Eagles it was a challenging game as they committed six errors and gave up nine hits, the largest offensive output any team has had against the Eagles this season. In the circle Bennett was charged with two earned runs and two walks while striking out nine. It was Bennett’s first loss of the season as she now holds a 5 and 1 record on the year.
As the Eagles get ready for the home stretch for their season over the next two weeks, they have a lot of great things going on. The team pitching has been outstanding all season with Anderson sporting and 8 and 1 record and Bennett sitting at 5 and 1. Both ladies have a save to their credit as well. Anderson leads the pair with ninety-seven strike outs, but Bennett’s strong efforts in her last few appearances now have her at 80 strike outs for the year having pitched ten fewer innings. Both pitchers are averaging 1.7 strike outs per inning this season.
At the plate Tyszkiewicz, Henson and Anderson all have twenty-five hits in a three-way tie for the team lead. Tyszkiewicz leads the team with a .481 batting average and twenty-four singles. Anderson leads the team in triples (7), home runs (4) and RBIs (24). Henson leads the team in doubles with fifteen. Right behind this group sits Binnie with twenty hits and 14 RBIs. On the bases the team has a crazy eighty-nine stolen bases led by Tyszkiewicz with twenty-five, Muscat with sixteen and Henson with thirteen.
Finally, the Eagles have been solid in the field led by Henson at short stop and Binnie at first base. Henson has a .978 fielding percentage with three double plays. Binnie has been consistently great at first base all season with a .971 fielding percentage and one double play. With a platoon system behind the plate Bennett, Anderson and Emond have all contributed. Of the three Emond has played fifty-six innings backstopping the team with team leading .990 fielding percentage and ninety-five put outs.
As they get ready for a play-off run, the Eagles play four games this week with the first three being at home. Monday vs. Coast Academy, Wednesday vs. Foothill Christian and Friday vs, Granite Hills are all home games at 4 pm. On Saturday, the team travels up the five to San Dieguito Academy for a game at 10 am. Come down this week to SFC’s lowest level to see some of SFC’s highest level play. Let’s Go Eagles!