Poly head coach Toby Hess did his best Bobby Fisher impression yesterday at Poly High as the Jackrabbits took down Compton, 14-2.  With the short week, Hess moved his pieces into position for a run at the castle that is the Lakewood Lancers and the Moore League crown on Wednesday night at Blair Field.

Pitchers would usually take a bullpen session on Monday for a Wednesday game, so Hess sent junior Tyler Maxwell and freshman Chris Castellanos to the hill for one inning.  “This was a day of practice for us too,” said Hess.  “So, we got everyone in the game and the pitchers got their work in.”

“We’re ready, and I guess the offense is where it’s at,” said third baseman Thomas Walker.  “At the beginning of the season I thought it would be our pitching, but we’re swinging the bats right now.”  Asked if the he’s nervous for the match up on Wednesday, the junior smiled, “not at all.”

Walker mentioned shortstop Eric Gonzalez as one player that has really stepped it up at the plate this season, and the senior led things off for the Jackrabbits with the first of three walks to start the offensive engine.  They would score four in the first inning, and four more in the fourth, all unearned. 

Compton starting pitcher Alvaro Perez did a nice job keeping the ball down after he struggled with his control in the opening frame.  Even though he struck out six in his 5.1 innings of work, the four errors behind him kept the Jackrabbits rounding the bases.

Walker finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base.  Gonzalez had a hit and an RBI while the bench players came in and scored six runs in the sixth inning to make it a rout.

Mike Joiner paced the Tarbabe offense from the leadoff spot going 2-for-3 and scoring both runs to go with a walk and a stolen base.