Backstrom highlights Senior game with HR
REDONDO BEACH >> Serra's Hunter Backstrom was a late addition to the 51st South Bay Athletic Club Senior AllStar Game, but he didn't let that stop him from enjoying his time on the field Monday.
“I was excited when my coach emailed me,” Backstrom said. “My older brother (Mahki) played here (in the game), and he said it's the greatest thing you can do. I was excited to play with the best players in the South Bay.”
Backstrom's two-run home run in the fifth inning provided one of the highlights for the American AllStars in their 5-1 win over the National All-Stars at Redondo High.
“It was a 2-0 count and I was looking for something away,” Backstrom said of the at-bat when he his home run. “I knew the next pitch was the one, I could feel it. It was down and in, and the rest is history.”
Backstrom's home run off Torrance's Nick Han cleared the 290-foot marker in right field and landed on Prospect Avenue.
“It was exciting,” said Backstrom, who has committed to play in college at Fresno State. “It felt like an MLB game. The fans were screaming and it was phenomenal.”
The American team jumped on the board against Mira Costa's Chris Canavan in the first inning.
An error allowed Torrance's Mason Martinez to reach base and Mira Costa's Truman Polich drove him in with a triple to center for a 1-0 lead.
Palos Verdes' Garren
Rizzo started the second inning for the National team and promptly gave up consecutive doubles to El Segundo's Lucas Bonham and his Palos Verdes teammate Alex Forman.
“(Rizzo) is one of my best friends, and he's a stud on the mound,” Forman said. “I was looking for a fastball and I got it. I put a lucky swing on it.”
Forman's RBI double gave the American All-Stars a 2-0 lead and San Pedro's Giovanni Crow made it a 3-0 game with an RBI single.
Canavan allowed one run (unearned) and struck out three in his one inning of work. Han allowed the two runs on three hits while striking out four over two innings.
El Segundo's Brady Englehardt, who said he was caught off guard by his selection to the all-star game, struck out the side in the sixth inning for the National team, starting a string of four consecutive no-hit innings.
“To be honest, I haven't touched a baseball in three weeks,” Englehardt said. “I hit the top of the backstop a few times trying to get my fastball dialed in. I got the two-seamer dialed in and I didn't need the change-up, so I was throwing my fastball and slider and it ended up working out.”
The American team's pitching staff combined to allow just five hits and one run and struck out 12.
Torrance's Thomas Adair got the start for the American team. He allowed two hits and struck out two before making way for South Torrance's James Broughton. The hard-throwing righthander struck out three and walked two.
The National team's lone run came against Bishop Montgomery's Cole Blumenthal. West Torrance's Jackson Sharman laced a one-out single and found himself at third base following a pair of wild pitches. Sharman later scored a ground out by Peninsula's Tommy Phillips.
Forman got the ball for the eighth and ninth innings, striking out four while getting Lawndale's Anthony Garcia to ground out to end the game.
“It was nice to end my last high school game on the mound,” said Forman, who didn't know the annual event took place until hearing of his selection. “I was going out there trying to get us home and throw strikes. It was effective.”
Like many of his all-star teammates, Backstrom's focus was to enjoy Monday's game.
“I just wanted to have fun with it. With life and baseball,” Backstrom said. “High school only comes once, so you have to have fun with it. I wear this (Serra) jersey with pride because it's my family and I love my family.”