The Dorsey baseball team endured a tough season and their final home game was no different. Despite earning runs in earlier innings, the Dons lost to the Fremont Pathfinders 6-10.
The matchup was senior day for Dorsey as they honored seven players: Elijah Dobson, Korey LaFlora, Elijah Moses, Nolan Smith Robinson, Ozabe Banks, Terry Burton, and Samuel Spann.
Both teams only allowed four at bats to start the game. Starting pitcher LaFlora struck out two Pathfinders at the top of the second. When Fremont returned to the outfield, sophomore pitcher Matthew Muñoz allowed a single and walked two players. Although the bases were loaded, he struck out two batters.
Sophomore Jordan Mercadel landed a triple RBI to put the Dons on the scoreboard. Dorsey scored another run when a player stole home while LaFlora was at bat. The Dons had a pitching change to begin the third inning, switching from LaFlora to Robinson. Junior Jordan Ayala responded for Fremont, hitting a triple and sending one runner to home base.
“I just went up to the plate thinking ‘I needed a big hit right now and my team needed me,” Ayala said. “When I got [to third base], I was hyped. It was a good hit.”
Muñoz was at bat next, hitting a run from a double. Robinson allowed four walks, helping Fremont tie with Dorsey at four runs each. David Leon hit a single and an RBI before the fourth inning. The Dons resumed their efforts to score in the bottom of the fifth when Mercadel earned an RBI from a single.
Junior Andres Rizo stole second and third base while Ayala was at bat and clinches a run when Ayala hit a single. While Fremont junior Jose Casio was at bat, a runner stole home and Fremont tied with Dorsey with six runs.
“You never know what’s going on [with] the other side,” Robinson said. “I just try to get in their heads every time so we still have a chance all throughout the game.”
The Pathfinders hit a groove in the seventh inning. Dorsey switched out Robinson for Dobson. Walks and a single loaded the bases; Dobson walked one more hitter for Fremont to get the lead. Senior Edwin Palicios earned two RBI’s, stamping Fremont at 10 runs. Dorsey was unable to score any more runs when it was their final turn at bat.
The victory put gave Fremont the 16 seed in the division II playoffs. They finished second in the Coliseum League with 6-2 league record while Dorsey came in third with a 4-5 record.
