La Palma, CA — The Kennedy Fighting Irish welcomed the Pacifica Mariners to their home field on Thursday for the final regular season game of the year. Earlier in the week the Irish had defeated the Mariners to clinch second place in the Empire league and achieve a post season birth in the CIF playoffs. This time, however, it was Pacifica who would walk off with a 3-0 victory. Senior Travis Wilson took the mound for Kennedy and turned in a strong performance in a losing cause. He retired the first 6 batters he faced before allowing a bloop single into shallow left field. He proceeded to retire the next four batters until a seeing-eye groundball found its way into right field in the 4th. After 4 innings, he found himself locked in a scoreless battle, having allowed only the two weak hits and a walk. In the 5th inning, the Kennedy defense collapsed behind him. After retiring the first two batters, 3 errors and a couple of singles pushed 3 unearned runs across and the Irish were in a hole from which they would not able to climb out. Sam Moctezuma, Colby Deterding and Joshua Sanabria came on to shut out Pacifica the rest of the way allowing just one hit, but the damage was done. Perhaps the greater story of the day was the quiet bats of the Irish. They managed only a couple of hits on the day and went down swinging 5 times. Things looked hopeful in the 2nd inning when Wyatt Johnson led off by ripping a double to the wall in right center. Again in the 4th, Chase Leonard opened the frame by grounding a single into left, then stealing 2nd base to put himself in scoring position. On both occasions, however, the Irish were unable to advance them further. Of the next 12 batters, Kennedy mustered only one baserunner by way of Sebastian McSherry’s walk leading off the 5th. A double play erased him and the Irish were not able to threaten further. The fans stayed to honor the Seniors who were playing their last regular season game. As the players were led onto the field with their families accompanying them, public address announcer John Leonard read from comments each had made. A number of them stated that their most cherished memory was the feat of reaching the CIF playoffs. Many also described the joy it had been to be a part of such as successful effort with a group of young men they referred to as “brothers.” Regardless of what happens next week, those two comments will be fitting markers of what has been a very important season for Kennedy baseball. A group of young men learned what it means to be a part of something bigger than themselves. They learned how to become a unit, how to truly love and appreciate one another and how to battle together to overcome the odds and the expectations of pessimistic naysayers. They have accomplished something significant, and they are not finished yet! They will await word from the CIF on Monday as to where they will go for their next challenge. And waiting with them, will be their extended families and friends who have enjoyed this wonderful ride.