Starkand takes tough 2-1 loss in battle with Apaches’ Erik Trask
Burbank’s Daniel Starkand had been here before. So had Arcadia’s Erik Trask although not much this season as the Apaches have dominated opponents.
Starkand, a lengthy lefty, had pitched in close, low-scoring contests all year, so entering the fifth inning in a scoreless ties with the Apaches should have come as no surprise. And although Arcadia has been rolling through its early schedule this season, the Apaches know from experience how games against the Bulldogs often come down to who makes fewer mistakes.
Unfortunately for Burbank fans it was their Bulldogs. Burbank had a crucial error in the fifth inning that contributed to two runs, in a 2-1 loss at Burbank High.
Starkand threw 84 pitches and struck out four to offset two walked batters. At one point he retired six batters in a row and threw a complete game for the third time this season. He also got a hit
Dylan Mersola went 2-for-3 with a double and two stolen bases and Paul Frias also, had a hot bat, going 2-for-3 with a double in the loss. Unfortunately it was Mersola who had an error in the decisive fifth inning.
Other than that the defense was solid behind Starkand and featured a bare handed catch by Chris “ C.C” Okimoto to throw out the runner at first and two double plays when Arcadia was threatening.
Trask went six innings before giving way to closer Andrew Cordiero in the seventh. Trask also struck out four for Arcadia who is now 12-3 and 3-0 in Pacific League play.
Burbank out hit the Apaches, 8-4, however once again it failed to get that timely hit. The Bulldogs fell to 5-7 overall and 2-2 in league.
