AZUZA/WHITTIER, CA. (MAR. 28-29, 2024)- The Whittier College Poets returned to SCIAC play this week with a 3-game series against the CMS Stags. After a not being able to find a rhythm in the first 2 games of the series, the Poets stole game 3 from the Stags to avoid the sweep. 

Game 1: 
In the first game of the series CMS got off to a fast start, scoring 4 runs in the first inning. Whittier answered in the top of the second. Ian Watanabe (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) got things started with a walk and then Nathan Sherman (Ventura, Calif., Buena HS) was hit by a pitch. After the runs were moved over on a Jackson Brummett (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach HS) groundout, Delvan Gomez (Artesia, Calif., Gahr HS, Cerritos College) singled through the left side and Watanabe and Sherman scored. James Stirton (Cerritos, Calif., Valley Christian HS) then came up and hit his second double of the game. With runners on second and third, Teige Barrett (San Diego, Calif., Mira Mesa HS) singled to center field to bring the 2 runs home. The score was tied 4-4. 

The Stags got back in the scoring though, as they were able to come away with 9 runs over the next 3 innings. 

In the top of the fifth, Lew Rice (Walkerton, Va., IMG Academy) hit a towering shot over the right field wall. This would be the Poets final run of the game, as they would end up losing 15-5. 

Game 2: 
The second game of the series was not much better for the Poets. CMS got off to another good start scoring a run in the first and second innings. Whittier looked like they were ready to compete and answered with 1 of their own in the bottom half of the second, but then in the third CMS took off. The Stags scored 10 runs in the third inning and would go on to score in almost every inning this game. 

Late in the game the Poets had some guys come off their bench and provide a small spark for them. In the bottom half of the sixth, Thomas Iten (Stockton, Calif., Lincoln HS) drew a walk and then Enzo Comes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Los Osos HS) gave the Poets a second base-runner by singling to the shortstop. Abe Bullard (Paynesville, Minn., Paynesville HS) then loaded the bases with a hit of his own and Cole Friend (Carlsbad, Calif., Carlsbad HS) followed that up with an RBI walk. After a couple plays Cam Gray (Bloomington, Ind., Bloomington North HS) brought the 4th run of the inning home with a double to right field. Joseph Leyva (Downey, Calif., Warren HS, LA Harbor JC) would groundout to bring the final run of the inning home, but by the end of it the Poets had scored 5 this inning. 

The rally would be too little though as CMS held on to win this game 20-6. 

Game 3: 
In the final game of the series the Poets finally were able to get something going. After giving up a first inning homer, Braydon Williams (Los Angeles, Calif., Dorsey HS, Holy Names University) settled down on the mound for Whittier and pitched a gem. Williams held a lineup that had scored 35 runs in the first 2 games to just 1 hit over 5 innings pitched, while striking out 5. The pitcher was able to keep the Stags bats at bay, as the offense was finally able to make their strike. 

In the second inning Maximus Berber (Riverside, Calif., Ramona HS) got things started with a single through the left side. Then Joe Plaskett (Fremont, Calif., Washington HS) hit a bomb, his first of the year, over the left field fence to bring the score to a 2-2 tie. 

In the bottom of the fifth Whittier was able to capture their first lead of the series thanks to a couple huge hits. Stirton began the rally with a single to the left side. He was followed by Barrett, who hit a towering shot that just snuck over the left field wall. After Berber got recorded his second single of the game Plaskett followed him up with a no-doubter over the fence, for his second homer of the game. The Poets had established a 6-2 lead. 

In the top of the sixth inning CMS was able to score 1 more run, but the Whittier bullpen came in and slammed the door on the Stags lineup. Williams, Riley Schicker (Camarillo, Calif., Santa Clara HS), Marcos Armenta Jr. (Bellflower, Calif., Gahr HS), Diego Lopez (San Jose, Calif., Thomas More HS, West Valley CC), Nate Burke (Glendale, Calif., Glendale HS), Anthony Betancourt (Oxnard, Calif., Rio Mesa HS, Ventura College), and Barrett combined to only give up 3 runs this game on 5 hits, while striking out 7. 

This was a big win for the Poets as they avoided their first sweep of the season. They will have a chance to make it a 2-2 weekend, as they are scheduled to play host to Pacific University on Sunday. This game is slatted to start at 11:00, but the rain has been dumping in the area all weekend. Look for updates on social media about the game between the Poets and Bulldogs. 

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