By Sophia Do
The Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) varsity baseball team came from behind to defeat the El Segundo Eagles 4-2 in a CIF playoff matchup Friday afternoon at home.
The Barons jumped out early in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Tyler Peshke grounded out, allowing a run to score and giving Fountain Valley a 1-0 lead.
El Segundo answered in the top of the third when the Barons singled to center following a six-pitch at-bat, tying the game at 1-1. In the fifth, a sacrifice fly by Ben Lee pushed the Eagles ahead 2-1.
But the Barons responded immediately in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Josh Grack started the rally with an RBI single to center field, followed by junior Isaac Lomeli’s RBI single down the right-field line. Sophomore Drake Robinson capped the three-run inning by driving in a run on a fielder’s choice, giving FVHS a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish.
Senior Nathan Martinez earned the win for the Barons, allowing one hit and one unearned run over two innings while striking out two. Senior and starter Logan Hunt pitched four innings, giving up one earned run on two hits with one strikeout. Peshke closed the game and collected the save.
Lomeli and senior Michael Patterson led the Barons with two hits each. Peshke, Robinson, Grack and Lomeli all drove in one run. FVHS also turned a key double play on defense.
El Segundo was led by Brooks, Austin Hohman and Reed Abrams, each collecting a hit. Brooks and Lee had an RBI each. Eagles’ starter Samuel Forthuber took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits in four innings.
With the win, FVHS advances to the next round of the CIF playoffs.
