OF THE TRIBUNE
The Point Loma Nazarene Sea Lions didn’t play their game Thursday night.
And coach Joe Schaefer let them know it, huddling up the team before they could return to the dugout following the Sea Lions’ 5-1 loss to Lubbock Christian at Harris Field.
‘“I told them that obviously that wasn’t our game and it was a little frustrating and embarrassing that in a championship game, that that’s how we show up and play,” he said. “But the bottom line is we are still just one win away from a national championship and every single one of these guys needs to believe it.
“We can’t let any doubt creep in. We have to stick together and show up tomorrow ready to play.”
Point Loma will have a second chance to win its first NAIA World Series title tonight, when it again faces the Chaps at 7:05.
Point Loma starter Andrew Bovich, who gave up five runs in seven innings Thursday night, said the Sea Lions’ offense was pressing.
“We battled, we just came out a little tight today,” he said. “The guys were trying too hard, swinging too hard. Yesterday we hit five home runs. Today we tried to do that again but we are not that kind of team.”
Schaefer said he didn’t sense any nervousness with the team prior to the game, highlighting the offense’s struggles and the pitching of Chaps starter Rene Garcia for the Sea Lions’ shortcomings on the field.
“They were extremely loose just like they’ve always been,” he said. “They’re California boys. They’re beach kids. They’re relaxed and they’ll be ready to play tomorrow.”
Entering the game, the Sea Lions had not lost in nearly two months, stringing together 20 wins in a row. Their pitching has been dominant, posting a 4-0 record and a 1.54 ERA in the Series prior to Thursday’s game.
The loss was the first of the season for Bovich, who entered the game with a 13-0 record and a 1.50 ERA. After the game, everyone in the Sea Lions’ dugout blamed their hitting and not Bovich for the loss.
“My hat’s off to him because he gutted it out,” Schaefer said. “The guy is up well over 100 innings on the season and he came back one day short of his normal rest and in my opinion threw a pretty darn good game.”
If not for two home runs by the Chaps in the third inning, Bovich may have single-handedly won the ballgame for the Sea Lions.
“They have some good hitters in the lineup and besides that first home run the others were pretty good pitches,” Bovich said.
After the game, Schaefer said he was waiting until later Thursday evening to select a starter for tonight.
As first baseman Ian MacMaster sees it, the Sea Lions must put Thursday’s game behind them as they charge into tonight’s do-or-die finale.
“I’ve got to tip my hat to their pitcher, he threw a great game,” he said. “But at the same time, no excuses. We can’t play this game with any excuses — we didn’t show up and play our game tonight. We truly believe if we show up and we play our game, nobody can beat us. We’ve got one more chance to do that tomorrow — we’re going to do it. We’re going to show up and play our game.”
For center fielder Kurt Steinhauer, the game will be even simpler than that.
“We need to loosen up, come swing the bat and put some runs on the board,” he said.
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Jones may be reached at sports@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2268.
