Anaheim, CA — It was not what has been a typical performance for the Kennedy Fighting Irish. Over the last few weeks they had built an impressive 9 game win streak that saw them average 8 runs and 9.3 hits per contest. But, in a Saturday doubleheader at Canyon High School, it was as if they ran into a wall. For the two games, they would get only 4 runs and 7 hits total. Still, they refused to go away empty-handed. In the first game, they were shut out 7-0 while managing only 4 hits. They got just two runners as far as second base, and went down on strikes 5 times. Canyon, hit safely 7 times but added 4 walks and a hit batter to build a lead that never saw the Irish answer back. When the second game began, things did not get much better. After 5 innings they were still shut out for the day and had managed only 2 of what would be a total of just 3 hits in the entire game. However, they were still in the ball game due to a quality pitching performance by Sam Moctezuma. Sam threw 7 strong innings, holding the Comanche offense to only 2 runs while pitching out of jams in almost every inning. But one thing that we have learned about the Irish is that they are a team of character that does not give up the battle easily. In the top of the 6th inning, even while their bats remained quiet, they found a way to come clawing back. Chase Leonard led off with a walk and Ryan Cathcart was hit by a pitch. Albert Munoz worked the pitcher for another walk and the bases were loaded with no outs. Wyatt Johnson hit a potential doubleplay grounder to short but beat out the relay to first, allowing Leonard to bring home the first Irish run of the day. Cathcart scored on a wild pitch and, miraculously, the game was tied up 2-2. The comeback rally had been accomplished without even one hit. Moctezuma retired the side in order in the bottom of that 6th inning and returned to the mound for the 7th. After retiring the first two batters, Canyon took advantage of a walk and 2 Irish errors to load the bases with two outs. Sam buckled down and got the final batter to fly out to Jason May in left and the game went to extra innings. Evan Anderson pinch hit to lead off the 8th inning. The fleet outfielder went about manufacturing a go ahead run almost single handedly. He worked a quick walk and promptly stole second base, putting the go-ahead run into scoring position. When Munoz grounded out to short, Anderson sprinted safely to third. Canyon, knowing what Johnson has done at the plate so far this year, decided to walk Wyatt and take their chances with Sebastian McSherry. When a pick off attempt went awry at first, Anderson dashed home with the go ahead run and Johnson moved over to second. All 3 of Kennedy’s runs had now been attained without a single hit. Sebastian put an end to that story. After working the count full, he blasted the next pitch to the wall, scoring Johnson and giving the Irish a 4-2 lead. Travis Wilson took over the pitching chores with one runner on and no out in the bottom of the 8th and was entrusted with the job of trying to close out the game. The Comanches mounted a final rally, forcing a run across and putting the tying run at 3rd with only one out. Wilson got the next hitter to fly out to left, and the Irish needed one more out for an improbable come from behind victory. That out was not an easy one. The hitter drove a towering drive down the left field line. Jason May sprinted to the deepest corner of foul territory near the fence and made a nice catch to end the game. The victory concludes the non-league portion of Kennedy’s schedule. They now return to league contests, welcoming Tustin to the Irish home field Wednesday at 3pm. Kennedy currently is in second place in the Empire league with a 3-1 record. Game Notes: —Besides Moctezuma’s courageous effort, Travis Wilson did a good job of closing out the 2nd game for a win. Joshua Sanabria pitched a scoreless frame in relief in the first game retiring every batter he faced. Gavin Smith was brought into the first game with bases loaded in the 3rd inning and got the batter to fly out, ending the threat. He went on to pitch a scoreless 4th inning before giving up two runs in his final inning of work. —On a day when hits were few and hard to come by, McSherry supplied the blast of the day with his crucial double to the wall. Chase Leonard also doubled in the first game and added a single in the second to go along with 2 walks. Albert Munoz, Johnny Soto, Ryan Cathcart and Wyatt Johnson collected the remaining hits.