Once again the Varsity baseball team faced a committed Division 1 college recruit on the mound, on
Friday. He looked great, threw 90 miles per hour and struck out 11 Dons, but it wasn’t enough to get a
win. He faced a determined Acalanes squad that was up to the task!!

Mason Zirkel took the hill for the Dons and posted an outstanding performance against the Las Lomas
Knights in the first league game of the season. He pitched a 7 inning, complete game shutout just when
the boys needed it. Mason scattered 5 hits, gave up a walk and recorded 6 strikeouts.

Each team had their chances early offensively, but the big hit was lacking for both sides. After getting
the first two outs in the top of the 4th , Zirkel gave up a couple of hits and a walk to load the bases. The
next hitter bounced out to second baseman Nikko Woodson to keep the game knotted at 0-0.
Neither team could get anything going in the 5th , so the game moved to the 6th .

Mason put the Knights down in order in the top half of the inning before Keegan Goddard got the boys going in the bottom of the 6th when he was hit by a pitch in the helmet. He must have been fine because while dancing around with a healthy lead off at first, Keegan drew multiple picks to 1B to keep him honest, fortunately one bounced errantly off him again and he was up and running to take the steal.

With Goddard now threatening on second, Andrew Habas rises to the task with a single to left to move Goddard to 3rd. Andrew is able to take second on a steal, so Las Lomas cautiously walked hot hitting Mason Michlitsch to the load the bases, bringing up Nico O’Rourke with 2 outs and the bases juiced.

Nico promptly smacked a single up the middle to score speedsters Goddard and Habas to give the Dons a 2-0 lead! It was a clutch, two RBI at bat for O’Rourke.

Zirkel came out for the top of the 7 th and gave up a leadoff single down the right field line. Now the
stage was set for a visit from the pitcher’s best friend….the double play. The next hitter hit a one
hopper to short and the Minister of Defense, James Stadt, grabbed it, stepped on second and threw to
Michlitsch at first for the double play!!! Mason Z struck out the final hitter to secure the win and keep everyone happy in Donland. Great win for the boys. Pitching and Defense win. Good way to start Spring Break. Go Dons!