Similar to a big pile of laundry looking intimidating, intimidation has always been a part of baseball. Babe Ruth, who once struck out looking against “the Big Train” Walter Johnson, turned to the umpire arguing that the pitch sounded high. Nolan Ryan was known for his high leg kick, record-breaking strikeouts, and pummeling Robin Ventura. Randy Johnson, the tallest pitcher of all-time and one of the hardest throwers, began his windup with a menacing, over-the-glove stare and famously exploded a bird that flew into the path of his fastball. Barry Bonds was intentionally walked 688 times in his career.
College Park looked pretty intimidating as they made the trip to Acalanes. They were a perfect 9-0. They had beaten a few common opponents that had taken down the Dons. They were looking for payback after getting swept by the Frosh Dons last year. They had a few players with size. Their mascot is a Falcon. Their camera system looked intimidating. And even some of the their fans looked intimidating, going so far as making Sherry Quinn sit with them for a couple innings.
Against this backdrop, the Dons played their best game of the season. Dominating all facets of the game, they extended their win streak to 7 games. The pitchers delivered 7 shutout innings without harming any birds. Jake Colaco got the start on the mound and went 4 innings giving up no runs on 2 hits and no walks. Isaac Copen came in from the bullpen and went 3 innings giving up no hits and 2 walks.
The fielding was solid yet again. Catcher Dominic Patitucci did a great job supporting both pitchers, including making a play at the plate in the first inning. Shortstop Brady Quinn continued to make plays all over the field.
The offense kept rolling, scoring 7 runs on 7 hits. Ben Pecci and Austin Wampler led the team with 2 hits each, and Wyatt Cooper, Augie Martinez, and Cole Gwaltney also had hits. Pecci extended his hit streak to 8 games.
The game was a pitcher’s dual until the bottom of the 4th inning, when the Dons busted the game open. It started with a Cooper walk. Next, David Roux bunted down the first base line and reached safely after channeling his inner linebacker to streamroll the Falcons pitcher. After Quinn walked to load the bases, Copen lined out to CF after hitting a shot foul that might have had enough distance to be a grand slam. Following that out, clutch hits by Martinez, Wampler, and Pecci put 4 more runs on the board.
Get to know Coaches: Jim only separates his laundry colors with new clothes, and Dan doesn’t do laundry.
The team plays the second game of the double header on the road against College Park today, Thursday, April 13th.