Ganesha Baseball Wins Ryan Lemmon Invitational, Extends Winning Streak to 31 Games

Ganesha High School’s baseball team secured a decisive 17-0 victory over St. Paul High School in the championship game of the Ryan Lemmon Invitational on Wednesday night at the Great Park Stadium in Irvine. This win extends Ganesha’s impressive winning streak to 31 games over the past two seasons.

Dominant Performance in the Championship

After a close first two innings, Ganesha broke through with four runs in the third inning and continued to build their lead throughout the game. The team demonstrated strong offensive and pitching performances, ultimately shutting out St. Paul.

Key Players and Contributions

Bryant Loo, named the tournament MVP, led Ganesha with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, scoring one run and driving in three RBIs. He too pitched 4 2/3 innings in relief, allowing only two hits and striking out three batters.

Other key contributors included:

• Gavin Smith: Scored three runs and had two RBIs.
• Ford Stoen: Recorded three RBIs, including two sacrifice flies.
• Logan Schmidt: Drove in five RBIs, including a bases-loaded triple.

Road to the Championship

Both Ganesha and St. Paul entered the championship game with undefeated 3-0 records in pool play. Linfield Christian was the only other team to remain undefeated heading into the final. Ganesha, the defending CIF Division 4 champion, capitalized on four walks in the bottom of the sixth inning to add three more runs to their total.

Coaches’ Reactions

Ganesha Coach Jared Sandler praised his team’s performance throughout the week, stating, “The kids did a good job all week, we played some close games and I feel like we build momentum every time they play.” Sandler also highlighted Loo’s unexpected pitching success, noting, “Bryant Loo never pitches and he came in and just threw the ball over the plate and did a good job.”

Rex Lyon of the Ryan Lemmon Foundation presented the championship and runner-up plaques, as well as the MVP trophy to Loo. Dick Owens served as the tournament director for the event, which has been held annually for over 30 years.

Looking Ahead

With a current record of 11-0, Ganesha continues to build on its success as the defending CIF Division 4 champions. The team’s momentum and strong performances suggest a promising season ahead.