of the Tribune
They first picked up on the tendency on Saturday, as Lubbock Christian skillfully dissected Lee. Point Loma Nazarene players and coaches were in the bleachers, relishing a day off, when a theme kept reappearing on the base paths.
The Chaparrals that night piled up a mountain of hits — 12 in all — and nearly every time “they were aggressive on the bases,” said Kaohi Downing, a Point Loma senior.
“They were rounding the bases hard.”
Four days later, with an unblemished NAIA World Series’ record on the line, Downing had LCU’s penchant for risk-taking in mind. And, boy, did that bit of scouting pay off in spades.
In the eighth inning Tuesday night, the Sea Lions’ spunky right fielder gunned down Rob Learned as the Chaps’ No. 5 hitter scrambled back to first base after what looked to be a key single. The perfect throw doused LCU’s final threat and highlighted a magnificent defensive night from Point Loma.
The spotless play in the field, coupled with Brandon Dixon’s sterling seven-hitter, helped PLNU dash off with a 2-1 victory over top-seeded Lubbock Christian at Harris Field.
The third-seeded Sea Lions navigated past LCU by following a script that has unfolded for most of the season. Flawless defense and top-of-the-line pitching have been two staples for the San Diego squad.
When combined with clutch hitting, which was provided Tuesday by Steven Winnick and Wes Kartch, Point Loma morphs into a remarkably tough out.
“For us, for the most part it’s been pitching and defense and get that timely hitting when we need to,” Downing said. “You can’t ask for anything more.”
Downing’s key outfield assist came after Dixon walked Tyler Johnson with two outs. Learned looped a hit over first base and just inside the foul line when the hard-charging Hawaii native scooped up the ball in shallow right field and rifled a throw to first.
Learned went “a little too far” around first, Lubbock Christian coach Nathan Blackwood said. “But he also slipped. There’s a big divot where he slipped. No excuse, but it certainly wasn’t an intentional thing.”
Without Downing’s gritty play, the Chaps would have had men on first and third down by one run. Instead, the Sea Lions stormed off the field after the defensive gem and filled the first-base dugout area with yelps while mobbing Downing.
“He’s all right, huh?” Dixon said of Downing. “He’s got an arm. He can throw 94 off the bump. He’s been doing stuff like that all year, throwing guys out at first on singles to right. If you’re sleeping or not paying attention, he’s going to come get ya.”
Downing came from Honolulu to PLNU as a walk-on. The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder was drawn to the coastal program because of the Christian atmosphere and chance to surf pretty much whenever he pleased.
A few games into his freshman season, he grabbed a starting spot in the outfield with his teammate ahead of him in the rotation in a funk. “They gave me a shot,” he said, “and I haven’t given it back yet.”
He’s not about to
either. Not after Tuesday night, and not after the last four years.
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Wright may be contacted at sports@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2268.
