Lake Elsinore Crushes Fresno in a 19-4 Blowout

By Larry Belmontes

It was all gas and no brakes for the Lake Elsinore Storm on Friday night, as they unleashed a relentless offensive assault on the Fresno Grizzlies in a lopsided 19-4 win at Chukchansi Park! Backed by early power at the plate and a dominant pitching performance, the Storm left no doubt about who controlled the game from the very first inning.

Early Lightning: Storm Explode Out the Gate

Lake Elsinore wasted no time setting the tone in the top of the 1st inning with two outs and the bases loaded. Alex McCoy came to bat and crushed a grand slam to left center field for his first home run of the season. The blast brought home Ryan Jackson, Lamar King Jr., and Kaden Hollow home giving the Storm an instant 4-0 lead and flipping the game’s momentum.

And trust me, they weren’t done yet.

In the top of the 2nd, another two-out rally ignited. Sean Barnett launched a three run shot to dead center scoring B.Y. Choi and Ryan Jackson putting the Storm ahead 7-1 and they were just getting warmed up!

Pitching Power: Conrad and Miralles Shut the Door

While the bats lit up the scoreboard, Storm starter Victor Adam Conrad delivered a composed and efficient outing. The 21 year old from Winston-Salem, NC, showed poise and presence on the mound, keeping Fresno’s bats quiet through the early innings.

Maikel Daniel Miralles came on in relief to close out the game, preserving the commanding lead and securing the save for Lake Elsinore. His sharp command and efficient execution kept the Grizzlies from mounting any kind of late game rally.

Strikeouts and Shutdowns

Despite the offensive fireworks, the game also featured a staggering number of strikeouts. Both teams combined for 29 total strikeouts. Lake Elsinore hitters went down 15 times, with Lamar King Jr. striking out three times and Alex McCoy fanning twice after his grand slam. Fresno batters struck out 14 times, including three by Francisco Garcia and back to back strikeouts from the entire side in the 2nd and 3rd innings. Fresno’s offense simply couldn’t find a rhythm against the Storm’s pitchers, failing to build momentum after falling behind early.

Late Spark, but Too Late

In the bottom of the 9th, Fresno’s Yeiker Reyes gave fans a brief reason to cheer with a triple to right field which was his first of the season. However, with the score sitting at 19-4, the spark fizzled quickly as Fresno couldn’t capitalize, ending the game with another strikeout.

Standout Performances

• Alex McCoy: 1 grand slam (1), 4 RBIs

• Sean Barnett: 1 HR (2), 3 RBIs

• Ryan Jackson: 2 runs scored, key catalyst at the top of the order

• Victor Adam Conrad: Solid starting performance

• Maikel Miralles: Clean relief outing for the save

California League Standings (as of April 19, 2025)

In the California League South Division, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (LAD) currently lead the pack with a 7-6 record. They’ve gone 4-6 in their last 10 games. Just behind them are the Inland Empire 66ers (LAA) at 5-8. They’re two games back and have split their last 10 games at 5-5. The Lake Elsinore Storm (SD) sit in third place at 4-9. They’re three games back of the Quakes but showed signs of life with their dominant win over Fresno. The Visalia Rawhide (AZ) are struggling mightily bringing up the rear at 3-10 and riding a brutal 10 game losing streak.

In the North Division, the Modesto Nuts (SEA) are red-hot and sit atop the standings at 10-3 winning 7 of their last 10 games. The Stockton Ports (ATH) are right behind them at 9-4 having gone 8-2 over their last 10. The San Jose Giants (SF) are also surging at 8-5 with just two games off the lead with a similar 8-2 run. The Fresno Grizzlies (COL) round out the North with a 6-7 record and four games back coming off a tough night against the Storm. They’ve gone 4-6 in their last 10.

Lake Elsinore may be sitting near the bottom of the standings, but Friday night’s statement win could be just the jolt they need to turn things around. If their bats stay hot and pitching remains sharp, don’t count the Storm out just yet.

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