Gauchos impale Knights in season opener

The Saddleback baseball team opened the 2016 season with a 12-2 win over San Diego City College on Friday afternoon at Doug Fritz Field.  Jared Donahoe blasted a two-run homer as the Gauchos belted out 15 hits on the day.

Saddleback scored two runs in the second inning and three more in the third to open a 5-0 lead through three innings of play.  Donahoe (pictured) capped off the scoring by driving a ball over the left-center field fence.  It was one of two hits on the day for Donahoe, who reached base three times.

Ryan Fitzpatrick also had a big day, reaching base in all four plate appearances with two hits and two walks.  Kyle Candalla was the catalyst at the top of the order, going 3-for-4 with two RBI of his own.

Saddleback widened the lead to 10-1 in the fifth inning when it scored four runs.  Donahoe and Justin McSorley both singled to start the inning before Dallas Dey walked to load the bases with no outs.  Robbie Biehl then grounded out to drive in a run before Candalla singled to drive in two more runs.  The final run came after San Diego City booted a ball at short, bringing home Candalla.

John Sheaks started the game and pitched three innings to pick up the first win of the season.  Sheaks worked out of a jam in the first inning and eventually settled down to strike out six in three innings of work.  Stephen Young then came in to pitch the next three innings, giving up just one hit while striking out four while the Gauchos built a big lead.

Saddleback and San Diego City will play again tomorrow in San Diego with the first pitch scheduled for 12:00 PM.