Ritchie, JetHawks get rich in rout of Storm
LANCASTER, Calif. - Jamie Ritchie hit a grand slam and drove in six to lead a 23-hit attack for the JetHawks, as they routed the Lake Elsinore Storm on Monday night at The Hangar, 19-0.
The JetHawks (15-20) scored two in the first, one in the second, five in the third, and 11 in the fourth. Ritchie hit a two-out two run single to open the scoring in the first and his grand slam highlighted the monstrous fourth inning.
Ritchie, Nick Tanielu, and Kristian Trompiz each had four hits in the game. Tanielu raised his batting average to .371, which leads the California League. Drew Ferguson drove in five runs and hit a pair of doubles, while Ramon Laureano reached four times and scored four runs.
Bryan Muniz hit a solo home run to the opposite field in right, his second of the season, in the five-run third inning. The JetHawks went 10-for-20 with runners in scoring position in the game.
Lancaster starter Rogelio Armenteros (1-1) retired the first seven batters he faced, which included four strikeouts in a row. The right-hander allowed just four singles in six innings of work, did not walk a batter, and struck out nine. Ryan Thompson and Eric Peterson combined to pitch the final three innings out of the JetHawks bullpen to preserve the shutout.
Thomas Dorminy (1-5) took the loss for Lake Elsinore (17-21), allowing 11 hits and eight earned runs in just 2.2 innings. Six pitchers took the hill for the Storm in the game, including infielder Felipe Blanco, who pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Trevor Seidenberger was charged with eight runs in just one inning for Lake Elsinore.
The JetHawks host the Inland Empire 66ers in the opener of a three-game series tomorrow night at The Hangar. Trent Thornton (1-1) will start for Lancaster against Jeremy Rhoades (1-4). First pitch is 6:35 p.m.
The JetHawks are celebrating their 20th anniversary season in Lancaster. Great ticket packages and group events are on sale now at jethawks.com or by calling (661) 726-5400.