CARLSBAD — With a team made up of sophomores and juniors with little varsity experience, La Costa Canyon High School baseball coach Justin Machado expected some growing pains.
And true to form, the Mavericks opened the season losing four of their first seven games.
This week, playing in the Open Division of the 74trh Lions Tournament, youth has been served.
After being rained out Monday, LCC beat Vancouver (Wash.) Union and Sage Creek in a Tuesday doubleheader, then earned a trip to Thursday’s championship game with an 8-1 win over Cathedral Catholic on Wednesday.
The Mavericks (6-4) will play at Point Loma on Thursday at 3 p.m. for the title.
“For most of us, this is our first season on the varsity,” said LCC shortstop and leadoff hitter Josh Tornillo, who hit a pair of solo homers Wednesday.
“We faced a lot of good teams earlyon, faced a lot of top pitchers2. But we could see it coming together. Honestly, I think the doubleheader Tuesday had a lot to do with it. It was a long day, we battled and won a pair of games.
“That carried over to today against a good team. We were playing nervous early in the season. Not so much now.”
Machado didn’t start a senior against Sage Creek and started four juniors and two sophomores against Cathedral Catholic (6-4).
The starting pitcher was freshman Christian Koch, making his second varsity start.
The diminutive right-hander went 5 2/3 innings. He allowed just three hits, walked one a struck out nine. The one run scored against him was unearned.
Ben Knudsen got the last four outs, striking out two as 11 Cathedral Catholic hitters struck out.
“I’m just trying to go out and do my best to help the team win,” Koch said. “I want to get ahead of the hitters, force the action and let my defense work. I had pretty good command today, but it’s not about me, it’s about the team. This is a team game, not a one-man selfish game. “
LCC led 3-0 when it pushed across four runs in the fourth inning as Cathedral Catholic fell apart.
The Mavericks had a batter reach on a strikeout/wild pitch. What followed were a bunt single, two walks, three wild pitches, two stolen bases and a pair of botched fielder’s choices in which the Dons didn’t get an out.
In addition to his two homers, Tornillo walked twice, singled and scored four runs.
Ryder Corti doubled, walked and scored twice. Rocco Cimarusti had an RBI double.
“I like this group,” said Machado. “We had some rainouts early, seemed like we faced every team’s No. 1 starter and made some youthful mistakes. But we’re learning, growing. It’s a lot better to be young and talented with a bright future than to be old and not care.”
