Liberty's baseball season ends with 3-1 loss at Peninsula

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

Liberty High School finished up its last game of the baseball season in the third round of the CIF playoffs with a 3-1 loss to Peninsula High Friday afternoon.

Koehn Freitas started on the mound for the Bison and threw a quick out on a line-out in the first at-bat. It was followed by three singles, though, that scored one run for the Panthers, before the Bison could get their last two outs on a fielder's choice and groundout.

The second inning was quick for both teams, with just three at-bats each in their respective half-innings.

Liberty's next three batters struck out before Peninsula took the plate again and scored another run. It was scored as the first baserunner, who had walked then advanced to second on an error, was brought home by a single. The last out of that inning came just after the run scored on a flyout, leaving the Bison behind by only two going into the fourth.

But it was three quick strikeouts again in the top of the fourth, followed by another Panther run in the bottom of the fourth on a home run from Luke Mansir.

Two flyouts and a groundout in the top of the fifth meant the Bison were down three with just two at-bats left in the game. Freitas shut down the Peninsula batters in the bottom of the fifth with a strikeout, flyout and groundout.

Logan Paad relieved Freitas on the mound going into the sixth inning and was able to hold them without any more runs, despite their two singles. He threw two strikeouts and picked off one runner to get his team out of the inning, making his total for the game two strikeouts of the five batters he faced.

Liberty was ready to push the aggression in the top of seventh to get the runs they needed, especially after the opposing pitcher walked the first two batters to get their potential runs in scoring position. When Ian Slater reached base on a Peninsula error, Hayden Hendricks was thrown out advancing to home. Runners were still in scoring position and crossed home plate two batters later on a single from Julian Mendoza, putting the Bison on the board for the first time all game.

With one out and the bases loaded, Evan Gonzalez took the plate and struck out on three pitches. Then De La Riva had the chance to bring in the runs but fell just short with a groundout to second base that ended the game.

The Liberty baseball team is now finished with their inaugural year of varsity baseball and head coach Scott Montgomery said he couldn't have asked for a better group of boys to start this school's baseball history with.

"I'm very proud of my boys. They played hard but just came up a little short today," said Montgomery.

His team finished the season with a 16-10 overall record and a 9-6 league record.

“Freitas has been a huge part of our success this year on the mound," Montgomery said. "He is the ultimate competitor every time he toes the rubber. Even though he didn't have his best stuff that day, he battled with everything he had.

"Our defense really rallied around his effort on the mound. There were several diving playes made by first baseman Johnny Garcia and outfielder Luis De La Riva, a great play up the middle by second baseman Jake Feidner that got us out of some potential run scoring jams. And then of course our catcher Austin Cholodenko completely shut down their running game by throwing out two runners trying to steal and back picking a third at first base on a failed bunt attempt. My boys played hard in a very hostile environment and I am proud of them.”