Fullerton, CA — Kennedy traveled to Fullerton High Monday afternoon to take on the Indians in the continuation of the 2020 Elks Tournament. It would be a game marked by some robust hitting and a lot of runs scored. The Irish scored 4 runs in the first two innings only to see Fullerton strike back to tie it up in the third. Kennedy notched single runs in the next 3 innings to build what seemed to be a comfortable lead, only to see it dissipate in the last 2 innings of regulation. In those innings, the Indians scored three times and forced the game into extra innings. Then, in the bottom of the 8th, a sacrifice fly would bring home the winning run and send the Irish home with a crushing defeat. But, in spite of the negative outcome, there were reasons to be optimistic due to some very positive developments. For one thing, the Irish finally found their hitting shoes. After managing only 3 hits in their previous outing, they unleashed a barrage of 12 hits including 2 round-trippers, 4 doubles and a triple. 17 batters reached base either by way of a hit or a walk. Leading the way was Wyatt Johnson. Wyatt seemed to finally get into his comfort zone at the plate and swung the bat with authority, belting a home run and a triple for his first two hits and adding two singles in his final two at bats, falling a double shy of hitting for the cycle. He drove in three of the Irish runs and scored two himself. He also made the play of the day at a crucial juncture in the 4th inning, leaping to backhand a liner in deep right field and save at least a run. Sebastian McSherry continued his power display belting a home run well over the left field wall in the first inning. He also walked, was hit by a pitch, and singled in his next 3 trips to the plate. Defensively, he picked a runner off of third base to squelch a rally and end the 2nd inning. Jason May also had a great day. He ripped two doubles and reached base on a walk. The one time he was retired was on a well hit ball that found the glove of the centerfielder. He also had a nice running catch in left field and, earlier, made an impressive throw home that was just a hair late. Kyle Chung was held hitless on the day, although he hit the ball as well as anyone. He was robbed of a hit to right field in the first, he drove home a run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to deep center, and in the seventh he belted a ball to the deepest part of the yard only to be robbed again by spectacular leaping grab against the wall in center. Overall, his was a very promising performance at the plate. Tyler Beckler continued his hot pace by ripping a double to the left field corner in the first and driving home the 6th run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the 6th. Ryan Cathcart, Chase Leonard and David Roman each added a single to round out the Kennedy attack. Another positive performance for the Irish came from their relief corps. Gavin Smith relieved Sam Moctezuma in the 4th and proceeded to stifle the Fullerton bats for two straight innings. He was shaken when an error and a home run started the 6th inning, but he then turned in a gritty performance by buckling down and retiring the next 3 batters in a row, two of them by strikeout. He was relieved by Michael Oehlers who would need to show some grit of his own. With the bases loaded and two out in the 7th, the winning run only 90 feet away, Oehlers found himself with a full count on the batter and one pitch away from losing the game. In one of the exciting moments of the game, Michael came through by striking out the batter to take the game into extra innings. The Fighting Irish have looked uneven and uncomfortable so far in the young season. But today’s game provided clues that they are beginning to put things together. They look to strengthen that pace on Wednesday when they return to action in the Elks tourney on their home field at 3pm.