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Three Warriors given all-league baseball honors

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

Three members of Fallbrook High School's 2021 baseball team were given all-league recognition by the Valley League coaches.

Alex Lopez was named to the Valley League second team. Mitchell Baker and Anthony Thomas were honorable mention selections.

Lopez was a senior who was on Fallbrook's varsity for four years. Lopez played both third base and second base for the Warriors. "He understood what winning was, he understood what hard work was," said Fallbrook coach Patrick Walker. "Played good defense for us. Showed great leadership."

Fallbrook had a 6-20 season record including a 4-11 mark in Valley League play which gave the Warriors fourth place in the final standings. In those 26 games, Lopez had 30 hits in 85 at-bats for a .353 batting average. Three of those hits were doubles. Lopez scored 20 runs and drove in four teammates. He walked 13 times, reached base twice as a hit batter, and had a sacrifice bunt. His on-base percentage was .450, and, once he was aboard, he stole six bases. Lopez also made two pitching appearances, facing one batter both times and retiring that hitter.

The 2021 season was Baker's junior year. He played shortstop, third base, and pitcher. His 25 hits in 80 at-bats gave him a .312 batting average, and 12 walks and four instances as a hit batter gave him a .427 on-base percentage. He had three doubles and two triples, scored 14 times, sent eight teammates across the plate, and stole one base. He had a 1-1 pitching record in nine mound appearances, struck out 20 opponents in 34 innings pitched, and allowed only one home run to the 170 batters he faced.

Thomas was Fallbrook's catcher, and he was a sophomore for 2021. He batted .345 with 20 hits in 58 at-bats, and seven of those hits were doubles. He walked 10 times and was hit twice to give him a .457 on-base percentage. He scored nine runs while driving in seven. He had two pitching appearances, throwing an inning in each game.

"I feel like those two deserved it," Walker said of Fallbrook's honorable mention players.

Both of those players are expected to return to the team for 2022. "They will be a big help," Walker said.

 

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