TUSTIN – Johnny Morales has not pitched much for Pacifica’s baseball team this season.
The Mariners have a deep group of pitchers, so opportunities have been few for Morales, a senior right-hander.
Morales got the start Friday against Tustin and delivered, throwing a complete game in Pacifica’s 4-1 victory in an Empire League game at Tustin High.
It was a win Pacifica need. The Mariners lost to Tustin 4-0 on Wednesday as Tustin pitcher Riley Kelly had another great game, shutting down the Mariners on four hits with 11 strikeouts in six innings.
Cypress is on top of the Empire League standings with a 4-0 league record after two-game league sweeps of Kennedy and Valencia. Cypress completed another impressive week Thursday with a win over Bishop Amat in the National Classic championship game.
Pacifica, No. 14 in the Orange County top 25, is 2-2 in league. The Mariners are 14-7 overall.
Tustin, which dropped out of the top 25 after a two-game league split with Kennedy last week, is 2-2 in league and 13-7 overall.
Morales allowed an earned run on four hits and struck out five with two walks Friday.
“We needed a big performance from Johnny,” Pacifica coach Mike Caira said. “I’m so happy for this young man. There are guys ahead of him (in the pitching rotation) so he wasn’t getting his opportunity, but he rose to the occasion today.”
The Mariners gave Morales early offensive support.
Jacob Zanaboni led off the first inning with a walk. Luke Anema followed with a single to right-center field and on a throw to third base that was too late to get Zanaboni motored to second base. Morales walked to load the bases and two outs later Tristin Brinkman walked to push Zanaboni across for the first run. An error on Chad Gunea’s hard-hit ground ball enabled Anema to score for a 2-0 lead.
Tustin scored its run in the bottom half of the first inning in a spectacular way. Elijah Smith led off with a walk and stole second base. One out later, Daniel Benally hit a deep fly to center field that was caught. Smith tagged up and never stopped running, speeding around third base before sliding across the plate safely for the run.
Another Tustin error in the fourth inning allowed Gurnea and Junior Zendejas to score the Mariners’ third and fourth runs to make it 4-1.
Tustin got its leadoff batter on base in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings. The Mariners were able to turn some double plays, including one in the seventh inning for the game’s final two outs.
Morales was happy with his own contribution and the contributions of others Friday after Wednesday’s loss.
“We came back with great mentality,” Morales said. “Me hitting my spots and the defense, that’s the best they’ve played in a long time.”
Pacifica plays Kennedy in two league games next week, with the first one at Kennedy on Tuesday. Tustin has two league games next week against Valencia, starting at Valencia on Wednesday.