Known for producing first-round draft picks as pitchers, Harvard-Westlake has assembled a group of hitters this season that looks capable of producing lots of offense after a season-opening 15-1 win over Southlake (Texas) Carroll on Thursday at O’Malley Family Field.
Just look at the first five hitters in the lineup: Shortstop James Tronstein is headed to Vanderbilt; outfielder Ethan Price is committed to Santa Clara; center fielder Ira Rootman is a Texas commit; designated hitter Jake Kim is a UCLA commit, and freshman third baseman Louis Lappe is the Little League star from El Segundo.
Freshman Louis Lappe scores after hitting an RBI double on a 3-and-2 count in his first high school at-bat.
(Craig Weston)
Kim led the Mission League in home runs as a sophomore with seven and hit his first of this season to right field with a little help from the wind. Rootman hit a ball so far over the left-field fence for a three-run homer that it might have gone out of a big-league stadium. Lappe, in his first high school at-bat, delivered an RBI double.
“It was cool,” Lappe said. “A lot of pressure came off. I got that weight off my shoulders.”
The Wolverines have been focused on getting stronger in the weight room, and no one has benefited more than Rootman, a junior who added 10 pounds and can’t wait to see how his improved strength is going make him a better hitter.
As for first impressions of Lappe, Rootman said, “I think he’s a very special kid and has so much talent it’s unbelievable.”
Justin Kirchner struck out nine in four innings. He’s a junior committed to Yale.
Boys’ soccer
El Camino Real 1, Palisades 0: Defending champion El Camino Real advanced to the City Section Open Division championship game when Jayden De La Cruz scored in overtime. El Camino Real will face the winner of Friday’s semifinal between South East and Marquez.
