Davis Tosses Gem as Warriors Open Season with Win

TORRANCE, Calif. --- The Grant Palmer era of El Camino College baseball got off to a glowing start on Friday afternoon as the Warriors scored a 3-1 victory over Orange Coast at Warrior Field in game one of the annual Memorial Cup.

Sophomore Jason Davis made sure Palmer's first game as the Warriors' head coach was a successful one as the sophomore was brilliant on the mound. Davis allowed just one run on six hits and struck out five, needing just 80 pitches to get through seven frames.

Jake Stolnack shut the door as he secured his first career save as he pitched the final two innings and struck out three.

Despite the brilliance on the mound, the Warriors had to mount a small comeback after the Pirates scored first in the second inning on an RBI groundout.

In the fifth inning, the Warriors tied it as Connor Meidroth singled to center with runners on the corners. Mason Martinez scored to knot things up at 1-1 through five.

In the sixth, Angel Gonzalez followed a two-out walk by Jack Hammond with a scorching triple to the left-center field gap, plating Hammond with what would be the game-winning run. The Warriors added an insurance run in the eighth with an RBI single from catcher Eric Perez that scored pinch-runner Ian Wilson from third base for a 3-1 lead, which was plenty for Stolnack to seal the win.

Perez led the way for ECC as he went 2-for-4 at the dish with Jack Nammack, Gonzalez, Meidroth and Joey Replogle each recording a hit apiece to make up the offense.

The teams will meet again on Saturday afternoon at OCC with first pitch set for noon, looking to clinch the series and retake the Memorial Cup.

The Memorial Cup Series between the Warriors and Pirates started in 2022 to honor the memories of Warriors catcher Sladen Mohl and legendary OCC coach John Altobelli. The Warriors won the inaugural series in 2022 with the Pirates winning two of three contests last season to claim the trophy.