Bramschreiber blasted a two-out homer with Andrew Yu and David Hubinger aboard to give himself a 4-0 lead to start with after the top of the first. He proceeded to hold the Lancers hitless over the first 3 2/3 innings until allowing a double in the fourth. Bramschreiber got the win after five innings of one-run ball in which he gave up three hits, walked one and struck out five.
“We just wanted to pound the strike zone after we got that 4-0 lead,” said Bramschreiber of the early advantage that held for all seven innings. “It’s always comfortable pitching with the lead.
“I think I pitched pretty well.”
Good as the start was for the Golden Knights, who ended a two-season drought with a playoff appearance last season, Esquival started by talking about the final three innings rather than the first four, in which St. Francis built a 9-0 lead.
“I think we were pretty consistent with our approaches the first four innings, then a few get hit out and everyone’s trying to hit it out,” said Esquival, whose team was retired in order over its last 11 at-bats. “[It’s] just a matter of sticking to the game plan.”
Yu began the scoring when he doubled in Saatzer, who had walked, in the first. However, Yu was later victimized twice by great plays at shortstop, robbing him of singles. But after Saatzer pulled a shot over the right-field fence in the fourth, seven of the next 11 outs were either popouts or strikeouts.
Nolan’s round tripper came on a line drive over the right-field fence in the third that also plated Hubinger and Bramschreiber, who had two of his team’s six hits.
The Golden Knights also had two errors in the field, but turned two double plays, as well.
Thus it was a mixed bag for St. Francis, but a solid start nonetheless that showed a couple of reasons why Esquival likes his team’s prospects.
“Ethan came out and threw the ball well,” he said. “We’re gonna ride him.”
As for the power, which came in a small yard, Esquival knows runs aren’t always gonna come via the big fly.
“We have a little pop in the lineup,” he said, “but it’s not gonna be three or four [home runs] at a time.”
St. Francis is scheduled to face Gabrielino in another tournament game at 6 p.m. today at Brookside Park.
“It’s a good start,” Bramschreiber said, “but the season’s not over.”
