Opponents targeting Fallbrook nine with top pitchers

Last year Fallbrook High School's baseball team won 22 games, which brought respect to the Warriors' program. That has caused opposing coaches to use their top pitchers against Fallbrook this year.

"We're getting everybody's #1. They're throwing their #1 pitcher against us every game," said Fallbrook coach Pat Walker.

Five games in the Falcon-Pirate Classic tournament began the Warriors' season. Opening Day was March 5 at home against Murrieta Mesa, and the Warriors were on the losing end of the 14-2 final score.

"We got killed," Walker said. "They're a very good team."

Del Norte hosted Fallbrook in the March 8 tournament game. The entirety of the scoring in the Warriors' 3-0 victory took place in the top of the seventh inning. Fallbrook senior Bryson Spagnuolo struck out 13 Nighthawks batters while allowing only three hits and two walks.

"That was kind of a nice revenge because of them knocking us out of the CIF championship," Walker said.

The three previous matches between Fallbrook and Del Norte took place in last year's CIF Division III playoffs. On May 29, a run in the bottom of the seventh inning created a 4-3 Warriors victory and gave the Nighthawks their first loss of the double-elimination playoffs.

The June 2 game went into extra innings, and Del Norte scored in the top of the eighth for a 2-1 triumph. Fallbrook would have advanced to the CIF championship game had the Warriors won the second game against the Nighthawks, but the Del Norte victory forced a June 3 game whose winner would play in the finals. A 9-2 Nighthawks win June 3 ended Fallbrook's season.

Fallbrook's pitchers in the Warriors' 8-0 shutout victory March 10 at home against Escondido Charter were Collin Hoff and Harrison Brown. Spagnuolo connected for a home run against the White Tigers, and Esteban Gomez had hits in all four at-bats including a double while scoring two runs. Ten different players accounted for Fallbrook's 15 hits with Jonathan Soto having two singles in four at-bats and Brown singling in both of his plate appearances.

Four runs in the top of the third inning contributed to Torrey Pines' 5-1 triumph March 15 at Fallbrook. "Pretty good game," Walker said.

Kyle Hurt threw the first six innings for the Falcons. He struck out nine Fallbrook batters and allowed three hits, and the Warriors' run in the bottom of the second was unearned. "They had a really good pitcher on the hill," Walker said.

The Warriors concluded Falcon-Pirate Classic play March 16 with a 6-3 loss at Vista; the Panthers' lead was 1-0 until they scored five times in the bottom of the sixth and the Warriors avoided a shutout with three runs in the top of the seventh.

Fallbrook lost all three of its Lions Tournament games. "It was a tough pool," Walker said.

The Warriors opened Lions Tournament play March 21 at Escondido High School with a game against Ridgeview High School of Bakersfield. Fallbrook scored three runs in the top of the first. The Wolf Pack scored their initial run in the bottom of the sixth. Fallbrook had a 3-1 lead with two outs in the seventh before three Ridgeview runs created a 4-3 final score.

"That really hurt us," Walker said. "You need to get that opening win."

Spagnuolo pitched the first five innings and allowed one hit and two walks while striking out seven. Fallbrook's 10 hits at the plate included three apiece by Hoff and Bryce Olivo.

Fallbrook traveled to San Diego High School for a March 22 game against San Diego. The Cavers scored the game's first five runs in the bottom of the third and ended the game on the favorable end of the 7-1 score. San Diego seniors Adam Ramirez and Jalen Booth combined for a one-hitter with Jordie Ewig breaking up the no-hit scenario. Ewig also scored Fallbrook's only run in the fourth when Olivo drove him in.

"Didn't play good defense and struggled at the plate," Walker said.

Fallbrook closed out Lions Tournament play March 23 at San Pasqual High School against Granada Hills High School. "They threw their #1," Walker said.

A combination of that hurler's velocity and breaking pitches led to a 6-0 loss. "He was 90, 92, great curveball," Walker said.

Kenneth Summers and Ewig had two hits apiece to account for four of Fallbrook's six hits against the Highlanders.

The losses gave the Warriors a 2-6 season record at that point. "Tough Lions Tournament for sure," Walker said.

"We've got a tough schedule for sure, and that's a good thing to prepare us for league," Walker said.

Ten of Fallbrook's wins last year were pitching victories for 2015 senior Andy White. "We're not as deep pitching like we were last year, but I do see us competing and having a good year this year," Walker said. "I think we're going to be fine."