Baseball: Bonita Too Much for Arcadia In Apache Invitational Title Game

The combination of Bonita’s Brandon Murfett on the mound and the Bearcat bats were too much for Arcadia to overcome Wednesday night in the championship game of the Apache Invitational. Murfett gave up one run on four hits in a complete game effort, and the Bonita offense came alive near the end of the game as the Bearcats scored an 8-1 victory over the Apaches.

“I tip my hat to Bonita because they are a solid baseball team,” Arcadia coach Nick Lemas said. “Bottom line is they hit the balls into the gaps, scored when their runners were in position, and we didn’t. Over this tournament we did get better, but the scoreboard tonight says one thing compared to how it played out on the field.”

Erick Trask went 5 1-3 innings for Arcadia, throwing nearly 100 pitches and allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out eight. Trask didn’t seem too fatigued as the game went on, but whenever he made a mistake on the mound, the Bearcats made him pay.

“The reason why I let those four runs in was because I missed my spots,” Trask said. “I didn’t put guys away and they took control of me. Next time around I just need to get the ball more in control and hit my spots better.”

“Trask battled and pitched very well,” Lemas said. “In the first couple of innings we were well into the game, and that’s what was important.”

Bonita’s Anthony Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Robert Mier went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Drew Klein led the way for the Apaches going a perfect 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Tyler Dominguez brought in the lone RBI for Arcadia. Brandon Benson went 1-for-4.    

The Bearcats got their offense rolling in the top of the third when Thomas Castro hit a triple up the left field line, scoring Conor Vislay. Castro later scored on a sacrifice fly by Mier to centerfield.

In the fourth, Gonzalez led off the frame with a double. Vislay brought him in with a double of his own two batters later. Matt Gelalich’s solo home run deep over the right centerfield fence gave Bonita a 4-0 lead two pitches into the fifth.

Arcadia finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Klein and Jonathan Wong knocked back-to-back singles, with Klein advancing to third on a passed ball. Dominguez grounded out to second to plate Klein.

The Apaches (11-3) had the makings of another rally in the bottom of the sixth with consecutive one-out walks, but Murfett struck out both Gary Huang and Trask to end the inning. The Arcadia relievers in the end lost control, giving the final four runs in the seventh.

K.C. Huth was named MVP of the tournament, while Murfett won best pitcher honors.

Though Arcadia (11-3) endured a rough title game, Lemas liked what he saw from his squad during the four-game tournament.

“I do like where we are at,” Lemas said. “We definitely got better over these last four games. I like the direction we are going, and I don’t think this game is really a negative aspect. This is a learning experience playing against a team that will make a run in the playoffs. And who knows, maybe we can see this team in the Southern Section championships.”

“In this tournament, we grew as a team,” Trask said. “We are going into the Pacific League solid, and there is no doubt that we should do well.”