ORANGE, CA. (Feb. 24, 2024)- After dropping the first game to the Chapman University on Friday, the Whittier College Poets traveled to Hart Park in Orange for 2 more games against the Panthers. The first game of the day was not a good one for the Poets, dropping it 11-0 in 7 innings of play. The bats woke up for the final game of the series though, as Whittier put up 16 hits on their way to a 10-4 victory.
GAME 1:
In the first game of the day Maximus Berber (Riverside, Calif., Ramona HS) took the mound for the Poets. The Whittier ace pitched a decent game, but the Chapman bats came out ready to swing. A combination of opponent hitting and some defensive mistakes behind him, forced Berber out of the game after 5 innings giving up 9 total runs, only 5 earned, on 3 strikeouts.
After the 5 innings, the Panthers held a 9-0 lead. Chapman would go on to score 2 more runs in the sixth inning and mercy Whittier in 7 innings of play.
James Stirton (Cerritos, Calif., Valley Christian HS) reached base twice this game, with a single and later being hit by a pitch.
GAME 2:
In the second game of the day and final of the 3-game series, Whittier was looking to steal a game from the #18 team in the nation. Starting off, Lew Rice (Walkerton, Va., IMG Academy) smoked a ball at the second basemen and he was not able to handle it, allowing him to reach base. Rice was later brought to third on an Ian Watanabe (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) single to right field. After pitching the first game Berber, who was now playing first base, singled to shortstop and brought Rice home for the games first run. Nathan Sherman (Ventura, Calif., Buena HS) was then hit by a pitch and loaded the bases for the red hot Luis Guillermo Chavarin Jr. (Fullerton, Calif., Sonora HS, Cerritos College). Chavarin singled through the right side and scored Watanabe. The Poets scored their third run of the innings on a Jay Schulze (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach HS) fielder's choice and they were now up 3-0.
Aaron Cazares (Eastvale, Calif., Norco HS) toed the mound for Whittier in game 3 and the second-year man pitched great. He shut down the Panthers loaded lineup for 5+ innings giving up 4 runs, 3 earned, on 3 strikeouts. Cazares had a lot of support from his lineup in this game and was able to go out there, trust his defense and came up huge for the Poets.
After scoring 3 in the first inning, Whittier kept it going in the second. Once again Stirton got things going by getting hit by a pitch and stealing second. Teige Barrett (San Diego, Calif., Mira Mesa HS) then walked and Watanabe came to the plate. Ian drove a ball to center field that the Chapman player was able to run down, but Stirton did advance to third on the play. Berber then drew a walk on a wild pitch that allowed Stirton to score. Sherman then came up big again, knocking a single up the middle and bringing Barrett in to score. Whittier held a 5-0 lead through the top of the second inning.
Starting the third, Stirton wanted to get the offense going again for Whittier. He singled to center field and that brought the dangerous bat of Rice to the plate. Rice got his pitch and turned on it, smashing a ball over the right field wall to score 2 more runs for the Poets. Barrett wanted in on the action then and following Rice's homer he demolished a ball of his own. Barrett crushed a ball that is still flying over the left-center fence and Whittier had an 8-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, Chapman got 1 run back, but the Poet pitching was holding them at bay. The Panthers went on their final run in the fifth inning, taking advantage of a few Whittier mistakes, however Whittier still held a 8-4 lead. Whittier would score 1 more run in each of the eighth and ninth innings, thanks to a few rallies of their own.
The Poet pitching staff was phenomenal this game. After Cazares came out, Jackson Salinas (Oxnard, Calif., Oxnard HS, Oxnard College) pitched a hitless inning of relief with 1 strikeout. Matthew Helguera (Montebello, Calif., Schurr HS) was the true shinning star though. Helguera pitched a fantastic 2 and 2 thirds innings, giving up no hits and striking out 2 (including the one to end the game). This was the second time this year Helguera has came in and slammed the door on the opponents bats.
Whittier's hitters came out and were ready to swing it in game 3 of the series. Barrett, Sherman, Watanabe, and Chavarin all had multiple hits this game. Rice finished with one hit but it was a huge home run, as he also had 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and a walk. Barrett was 2-4 with a homer, an RBI, 2 runs scored, and 2 walks. Watanabe was 3-5 with a double and an RBI. Stirton had 1 hit, but was hit by pitch 2 more times this game, had 2 more stolen bases, and came around to score 3 runs for Whittier. This was a great team win for the Poets, who would secure this victory by a final score of 10-4.
The Poets will continue SCIAC play next week, taking on the Kingsmen in a 3-game series. Whittier will be traveling to Cal Lutheran University on Friday to begin game 1 at 2:30. The two teams will then continue the series at Whittier College on Saturday with games 2 and 3 starting at 11:00 am.
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