The Acalanes Freshman baseball team split their doubleheader versus Las Lomas High School, winning game 1 by a score of 13-6 and losing game 2 by a score of 9-7.
In game 1, the team continued the momentum from the sweep last weekend against Las Lomas, recording a season high 17 hits. On offense, Cruz Lopez set the tone early, hitting a leadoff triple to begin the game. The hit parade kept coming as Cruz, Ben Pecci, David Gonzales, David Roux, Austin Wampler, and Jake Colaco all registered multiple hits in the game. David Roux led the way going 4-4 with 5 RBIs. The team could have scored even more runs were it not for some uncharacteristic mistakes on the basepaths. The pitchers also delivered. David Gonzales got the start, giving up no earned runs on 1 hit and 4 walks in 4 innings. Cruz pitched the last 3 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 3 hits and no walks.
Game 2 took more twists and turns than a Russian oligarch’s yacht trying to avoid seizure as the team got the early lead 5-1 at the end of the 2nd inning, but then got outscored 8-2 down the stretch. The early momentum was driven by 5 walks issued andshaky defense from Las Lomas, timely RBIs by Brendan Miles, Trevor McCarthy, and Cruz, and great defense, most notably centerfielder David Gonzales who caught a rocket off the bat of a Las Lomas hitter in the bottom of the 2nd inning that would have been at least a double. After that point, the Acalanes bats went largely silent while the Las Lomas batters hit their stride.
Jake Megibow got the start in Game 2. He pitched 3 innings giving up 4 earned runs on 4 hits and 4 walks. Next, Austin Wampler got his first pitching action of the year after a long hiatus due to injury and COVID-19. He went 2 innings while giving up 3 earned runs on 3 hits and 1 walk. Jake Colaco pitched the last inning, giving up no earned runs on 2 hits and no walks.
Not only did the team have parents in the stands cheering them on, but there were also grandparents, siblings, dogs, and even a parent from another school whose son used to play AB with the kids. One of the parents in attendance, Stefano Patitucci, is well known for his “baseballisms”. To get some quotes for this article, I enlisted two junior beat writers at the game, Grace Colaco and Ella Greenfield. Even though I couldn’t decipher all the quotes they gave me, phrases like “get that steak” which means that he wanted the batter to get a RBI, or “pack your lunch we are going to work” kept the kids engaged and fans entertained.
The team next plays double header against rival Miramonte on the road on Saturday, April 2nd. FEAR THE BLUE!