The Los Alamitos High baseball team returned from its Spring Break hiatus last week.
On Wednesday, April 10, it faced Marina, which it defeated with a 4-1 victory in Sunset League action on the road to capture the first meeting. It then wrapped the two-game series with a home stand on Friday, April 10. This time Los Al fell 2-0 to split the series.
The Vikings remained tied for second in the standings after facing the Griffins, the defending league champs. The Griffins are in a three-way tie for last place and must get hot in order to snag a playoff spot.
In the first game, the Griffins grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Dallas Probert led off with a single and later scored on a first and third steal situation. In the top of the fourth, the Griffins again struck for a run. With two outs, Christian Colborn laid down a bunt single with a runner on third to score another and take a 2-0 advantage.
The Griffins later kept the pressure on by adding a pair of insurance runs during the final innings.
Los Al’s starting pitcher Jake Nix delivered a gutsy performance on the hill, keeping the Vikings off the board during the first five innings of the game. He has frequently drawn praise from his head coach from coming through in clutch situations this season.
“We have been leaning on him all year,” Los Al head coach Matt Nuez said before the break.
Los Al had only defeated Newport Harbor in league play prior to facing Marina.