WHITTIER, CA. (Feb. 16, 2024)- Head Coach Mike Rizzo and the Poet's Baseball team played their inaugural home-opener today against the Northwest Conference champion Lewis and Clark College Pioneers. In the first game of the 3-game series, the Poets and Pioneers battled hard and it ultimately came down to 1 inning that made the difference. The score was tied at 2-2 through the 6th inning, but then Lewis and Clark went on a run and the final score would end up being 9-3 Pioneers. 

Whittier was able to jump on Lewis and Clark early, scoring a run in the 1st inning. Lew Rice (Walkerton, Va., IMG Academy) got things started with a leadoff single, then Nathan Sherman (Ventura, Calif., Buena HS) advanced him to second on a SAC bunt, and Teige Barrett (San Diego, Calif., Mira Mesa HS) brought him to third on a flyout to right field. That brought Maximus Berber (Riverside, Calif., Ramona HS) to the plate, who was able to single home Rice and give the Poets a 1-0 lead. 

In the 5th inning, the Pioneers were able to capture the lead on the back of 2 doubles in the inning. Whittier however, was not going away. Entering the bottom of the 6th inning, Whittier was trailing 2-1 and Barrett came to the plate. Leading things off for Whittier this inning, Teige got a pitch he liked and launched a bomb way over the left field fence. 

Unfortunately, the Lewis and Clark lineup figured out the Poets bullpen in the 7th and had the big inning that made the difference. The Pioneers turned 5 hits into 6 runs this inning and now held an 8-2 lead over the Poets. Lewis and Clark managed to get one more in the 8th inning and held a 9-2 advantage. 

Sherman started things off in the bottom of the 8th for Whittier, doubling down the right field line and advancing to third on a groundout to second. Then Berber was able to earn his second RBI of the game, bringing Sherman home on a groundout to shortstop. The Poets though were not able to get their comeback going and would lose this game by a final score of 9-3. 

Whittier was able to manage 9 hits in this game, with the above players each recording 1. Luis Guillermo Chavarin Jr. (Fullerton, Calif., Sonora HS, Cerritos College) had a nice day at the plate as well going 2-3 with a double. Ian Watanabe (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) and Jackson Brummett (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach HS) also added 3 hits to the Poets total. On the mound, the Poet pitcher had some spotlights. Owen Moore (Austin, Texas, St. Michael's Catholic Academy) pitched a solid 4+ innings of work in his college debut, surrendering 2 runs on 6 hits but also tallying 3 strikeouts. Marcos Armenta Jr. (Bellflower, Calif., Gahr HS) was also great in-relief for Whittier, pitching a hitless inning against the deep Pioneer lineup. 

The Poets will still have a chance to win this series, as the teams are set to play a double-header tomorrow. The first pitch is set for 11:00 with the second game scheduled for 2:30. Make sure to come out and support the men as they look to capture their first win of the season!