The Crenshaw Cougars baseball team finished their season strong with a 17-4 win over the Los Angeles Romans. Runs in the earlier innings gave the Cougars an advantage, sound batting would sustain their dominance.
The first inning fell into the Cougars favor as they scored six runs. Los Angeles made the scoreboard in the second inning when a runner stole home after sophomore pitcher Jasper Anderson allowed three walks. When it was Crenshaw’s turn at bat again and two batters hit singles. Freshman Tray-von Rhone hit a triple and recorded an RBI double, Crenshaw was up 8-1.
“I was proud of my team,” said Cougars senior Jaylin White. “We all had a smile on our face, no arguments. We came here and played as a team and we did our jobs.”
At the top of the third, Anderson struck out one hitter, but the bases were loaded with Romans after four at bats. Two consecutive outs at third base would send Los Angeles back outfield. Senior Daaton Thomas made a sacrifice hit, helping a runner at first advance to home plate.
White and Anderson hit singles, resulting in another run. Two at bats later, Anderson stole home, pushing the Cougars up to 11 runs.
“I think we hit a lot better than we have been,” said Crenshaw baseball head coach Jordan Sigman. “They were just throwing fastballs, so we were able to time that up and put the ball in play a little bit better and the ball bounced our way.”
The Romans began to rally at the top of the fourth. With two outs, three runners stole home. This edged the L.A. High score up to four.
“We just had to make contact with the ball and we had to [do] better on fielding,” said Romans sophomore Terrence Silburn.
Crenshaw delivered as strong finale to their campaign. After a walk, junior Kris Broussard hit a double and earned an RBI. He then stole bases to earn a run. Freshmen Zion Bennett hit a single and Thomas sent him running home on a triple. White then stepped to the plate and hit a homerun while making an RBI. Senior Raymond Jackson got the last RBI for the Cougars, notching their score at 17.
White, who had not played baseball prior to the 2018-2019 season, pitched the fifth inning. After allowing a walk, White earned one strike in his final game as a Crenshaw student.
“It was my first time ever playing baseball, first time ever pitching, so I was just dedicated,” he said. “I just kept my mind straight, put a smile on my face and threw the next pitch as a strike.”
