Hart played a Consolation 3rd Place game and lost today 8-2 to El Modena at El Modena. Hart was considered the "Home" team for this game at/against El Modena. Steve Burton started for Hart and got into trouble in the 2nd inning due to a hit, 2 walks, 3 errors and an interference play which El Modena turned into 4 Unearned runs.

Cole Hathcock started for El Modena. He has a scholarship waiting for him at UC Irvine, so Hart was against a known quality pitcher. He got the first 7 men easily, but Hart got things going in the bottom of the 3rd with 1 out Jake Supowit walked. After a strikeout, Shane Carlson kept up his hot hitting with a hard line drive double down the left field line scoring Supowit. Ryan Pettersen singled to right scoring Carlson. The inning ended on a flyout, but Hart closed the gap to 4-2.

Steve Burton settled down during the next 3 innings getting 12 of 13 batters, giving up only 1 hit. In the 6th, with 1 out Burton walked a batter, and then Hart made 2 errors to load the bases. Burton picked the runner off 3rd but he escaped when Hart made an error on the rundown. Tim Gonzalez then doubled in 2 more and El Modena now led 7-2 all 7 runs were unearned. Hart then brought in Freshman Jimmy Murphy who quickly restored order getting 2 quick outs. Murphy ran into trouble in the top of the 7th. Cole Hathcock singled to center took 2nd on a balk and scored on a long single to center. After a walk and a deep flyout, Hart brought in Jason Rehhaut, who quickly got a double play ball and Hart was out of the inning and came up to bat in the bottom of the 7th.

After 2 quick pop-ups to 3rd, Pat Sarkissian hit for Jake Supowit and hit a long double to left center. Kevin Baker lashed a sharp single to left sending Sarkissian to 3rd, but the game ended on a fly to left. Final score El Modena 8 - Hart 2. Hart had only 4 hits. Doubles by Carlson and Sarkissian. Singles by Pettersen and Baker. Hart batters struck out 8 times against Cole Hathcock who walked 3. Steve Burton gave up only 3 hits in 5.1 innings, but walked 5, Hit 2 men and committed a balk.

Hart is now 9-4-1 (2-1 in the Foothill League. Matt Valaika is still nursing a Hamstring pull, and may be out of Hart's next game against Canyon on Friday at Hart.

Narrative courtesy of Mike Gaber.