After being down to their last strike, the Malibu Sharks 2012 baseball squad found a way to comeback from being down 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh only to tie it and then win 5-4 in extra innings against conference foes the Grace Brethren Lancers to win the 2012 Southern California Invitational Tournament. Sophomore Noah Simon got the start on the mound and was flawless through three innings but was touched up for three runs in the fourth, making the score 3-1 going into the fifth inning.
Senior Matt Gruskin took over and held the Lancers to one run through three innings and the score was 4-1 going into the bottom of the seventh for the Sharks in a game played at Royal High in Simi Valley.
The Sharks had multiple runners in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings but just could not punch in a clutch run-scoring hit to change the score until the seventh inning. Senior Jordan Simon, who went 3-4 for on the day, started the seventh inning rally by getting on base and later scoring. After a couple of defensive miscues by Grace Brethren, the Sharks needed a hit and junior Frank Thomas delivered with an RBI double to right center. Key two-out at bats from junior Alvaro Alvarado, sophomore Nick Anthony and his brother, senior Evan Anthony, tied the game and sent the tournament championship game into extra innings. Sophomore Chase Lambert pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, including a strikeout, to give the Sharks a chance to win it in the eighth and it did not take long.
Jordan Simon led off the bottom of the eighth with a deep triple over the center fielder’s head for his third hit and fourth time on base of the day. Senior Hunter Johnson then hit a deep single to right to secure the Tournament championship for the Sharks, who have started out 5-0 for the first time in school history.
The Sharks have three games left until conference play begins and their next game is a home double header on Saturday against Channel Islands beginning at 10 a.m. at MHS. Conference play begins Wed., March 21 with Oaks Christian.