WHITTIER, CA. (Feb. 23, 2023)- The Whittier College Poets took on the #18 D3 team in the nation Firday afternoon, in the Chapman University Panthers. After jumping on one of the top pitchers in the conference in the first inning, the Poets pitching and defense could not hold off the Chapman bats and the Panthers would go on to win this game by a final score of 18-6 in 7 innings of play.
Ian Watanabe (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) came out swinging a hot bat once again. Lew Rice (Walkerton, Va., IMG Academy) got things started drawing a 8 pitch walk then stole second on the next pitch. That brought Watanabe to the plate and he roped a double into left-center, bringing Rice home. With 2-outs in the inning, Nathan Sherman (Ventura, Calif., Buena HS) stepped up in the box and laced a line drive single over the second basemen's head. Whittier scored their second run of the game on this play, as Watanabe scored from second base. Luis Guillermo Chavarin Jr. (Fullerton, Calif., Sonora, Cerritos College) continued the 2-out rally, knocking a double into right-center field. Sherman put on wheels on this hit and came around from first to score. Whittier had a 3-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
In the second though, the Poets could not hold the lead and the Panthers exploded for 7 runs. The Chapman bats woke up in the second inning and did not look back from there. They would score 4 in the third, 2 in the fourth and now held a 13-3 lead over Whittier.
The Poets looked like they were going to get some things rolling again in the bottom of the fourth. James Stirton (Cerritos, Calif., Valley Christian HS) began the inning running a hard 90 down the first base line and beating out an infield single to third base. Rice then doubled to right-center field and brought Stirton to third. Teige Barrett (San Diego, Calif., Mira Mesa HS) then hit into a fielder's choice, bringing Stirton in for the Poets fourth run.
Neither team scored in the 5th, but then Watanabe got another chance to score in the bottom of the 6th. Barrett walked with 2 outs and brought the dangerous Watanabe to the plate. He once again got his fastball and drove a line drive shot over the right field fence to put 2 more runs on the board.
Whittier would go on to lose this game by a final score of 18-6 in only 7 innings of play. Watanabe continued to swing a great bat to begin the season. The junior went 2-4 with a double and a home run, scoring 2 runs and recording 3 RBIs. Getting in on the hitting, Chavarin contributed in his at bats. He finished going 2-2, with an RBI and a double. Rice got on base 3 out of his 4 at bats with a double and 2 walks.
The Poets will once again go into Saturday looking to take 2 and win a series. Last weekend after a tough Friday, Whittier bounced back with a tremendous Saturday. They will be traveling to Hart Park to take on the Chapman Panthers once again in a double-header starting at 11:00.
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