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Baseball: El Camino Real pulls out 2-1 win over Kennedy

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There was a City Section baseball game to remember on Monday at El Camino Real, because it involved two All-City pitchers and two programs that combined have won 13 City championships.

Kennedy’s Ryan Cruz, coming off a shutout in his opener, didn’t have his best stuff. And yet, he entered the bottom of the seventh inning with a 1-0 lead. El Camino Real’s Jose Cardona, the reigning City player of the year, allowed one hit, struck out six and walked two while retiring the final 13 batters of the game. The only run scored was on a double steal in the second inning.

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El Camino Real finally got to Cruz with one out in the seventh. Cruz walked his ninth batter of the game, Chris Whitmer. Then Javier Rodriguez had the at-bat of the game. He fouled off three pitches on a 3-and-2 count before tying the game with a triple to center. Then Chris Nicholson won it for El Camino Real, 2-1, by contributing a sacrifice fly to score Whitmer.

With seven All-City pitchers back this season, Monday’s game could be a sneak preview of what the City playoffs will look like come May. And in defeat, Cruz showed lots of guts and fortitude, something a good college program surely can use.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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