Baseball opens with Sagehen roasting
Campus Times
February 20, 1998
Junior first baseman Kris Jensen waits for a throw from sophomore
pitcher Saul Hardin in an attempt to pick off a Pomona-Pitzer runner at
first base. The Leopards and Hardin went on to win the first of two games
in a doubleheader, 18-9.
After a disappointing defeat against Biola in its season opener, the
Leopards baseball team rallied to defeat Pomona-Pitzer for a clean three
game sweep last weekend to begin Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (SCIAC) play at 3-0.
The sweep also gave head coach Owen Wright his 600th career coaching
victory.
Last Friday marked the first of three games as the Leopards held host
to Pomona-Pitzer to commence conference action.
With the game tied at two, the Leopards began a rally in the bottom
of the eighth inning which resulted in three runs. Third baseman Armando
Hernandez, right fielder Juston Dospital and left fielder Eddie Hernandez,
all juniors, each had an RBI that inning.
In the ninth inning, the Sagehens were unable to score or show any signs
of comeback against freshman pitcher Mario Chaffino, who threw four strong
innings giving up no hits.
Pomona-Pitzer pitcher Jack Ramirez threw a strong game, but could not
contain the Leopards in the end, while senior La Verne pitcher Maynard McClarrinon
picked up the win.
"After Friday's game, we were confident that we could beat Pitzer
in Saturday's doubleheader," said sophomore center fielder Andrew Woolsey.
"The only way we could lose is if we mentally beat ourselves."
Saturday's doubleheader at Pomona-Pitzer was rescheduled for the next
day due to rain.
The emotional high of Friday's game carried over to Sunday's games in
Claremont.
In the first game, La Verne offensively dominated the Sagehens, pounding
out 20 hits in their 18-9 victory.
Junior shortstop Justin Ott went an impressive 5-for-5 including a walk
and scored four times. Hernandez went 4-for-6, had five RBI and scored three
times.
"Our hitting was there [that game]. I believe we have a good hitting
ball club," said junior catcher Vince Zavala.
La Verne abused all three Sagehen pitchers with its swift bats, as each
hurler gave up six runs a piece.
With Wright just one win away from reaching the 600 win mark for his
career, the team did not feel any pressure into achieving that goal.
"We only wanted to play that game like any other," said Woolsey.
"We wanted to focus on winning even though it was in the back of our
minds. Plus we wanted to win because it was a conference game."
Chaffino said, "It did not put any pressure on us, it only gave
us an incentive and made us hungrier for a win."
La Verne led 5-0 going into the final inning. Hernandez stepped up big
as he threw eight innings giving up no runs, three hits, and had six strike
outs.
"Armando [Hernandez} pitched a beautiful ball game, better than
I thought he could. I was really pleased with his performance," said
coach Wright.
Down by five runs, the Sagehens were not about to bow down. With Hernandez
out of the game, Pomona-Pitzer nearly came back to defeat the Leopards scoring
four runs as junior pitcher Matt Johnson struggled.
With the score 5-4, the pressure was on as the tying run stood on third
base and the winning run was on second base with two outs.
Pomona-Pitzer first baseman Kevin Hickey hit a pop fly to right-center
field, but Woolsey ended the game with a spectacular diving catch.
The catch marked coach Wright's 600th win and celebration broke loose
for the Leopards.
"It was a great win and a good feeling," said sophomore catcher
David LaPeer. "We stayed positive and we had a lot of guys that stepped
up and were ready to play."
Taking a modest approach to the victory, Wright said, "It was just
a milestone that is nice to have. I am more pleased with the simple fact
that we won and swept Pomona-Pitzer in three games."
The next game will be today as La Verne will host conference rival Redlands
at 2:30 p.m.
