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Orange Lutheran picked up where it left off last weekend by pounding Esperanza 7-1 in the opening round game of the Newport Elks Tournament at Hart Park.
Led by a solid pitching performance from Leo Hernandez (6IP, 1R, 9K, 7H, 2BB), the Lancers controlled the game from the outset.
In the bottom of the second inning, Orange Lutheran plated two runs on four singles off Esperanza starter Brandon Luper (4IP, 2R, 4K, 5H, BB) to take a 2-0 lead.
Esperanza would answer with a run of their own in the top of the third on an RBI double by Tristan Hildebrandt that scored Jacob White to make the score 2-1. Luper would settle down keeping Orange Lutheran off the scoreboard the next two innings before being lifted for Harrison Pyatt.
Josh Morgan and Dalton Frize started the fifth inning with back-to-back singles for Orange Lutheran. Pinch hitter Erich Glastetter laid down a bunt back to Pyatt, who bobbled the ball, then threw it past first baseman Travis Wilson. The ball rolled all the way to the outfield wall allowing Morgan and Frize to score giving Orange Lutheran a 4-1 lead.
Hernandez would get out of a two-on one-out jam by striking out Brett Swartz and White to end the Esperanza threat in the sixth. Orange Lutheran added three more runs in the bottom of the inning to take a commanding 7-1 lead into the final frame.
Brad Rinehart pitched a 1-2-3 inning to clinch the win for Orange Lutheran who will travel to face Palm Desert in round two of the tournament. Esperanza will face Trabuco Hills at home in the second round. Both games will be played on Saturday.
Orange Lutheran was paced by Joey Sanchez (2-for-3, RBI, R) and Morgan (2-for-4, RBI).
Nashea Diggs led Esperanza by finishing 2-for-3 in the game.