Last year in the rain at Benicia, the Acalanes season prospects were dimmed after a significant loss which dropped the Dons record to 8-10. This year, the Dons swept Benicia 1-0 on Tuesday and a blistering 20-4 on Thursday to raise their record to an impressive 15-7. Big win from the Dons especially since we had not won AT Benicia in recent years and it kept the Dons tied with co league leader Clayton Valley.
Senior Ethan Rowland, Sophomore Henry Souza, and Junior Tyson Bates held the hard-hitting Benicia Panthers to 4 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits over 7 beautiful innings. The Benicia Panthers featured several of the leagues’ top hitters but could not nearly match the Dons offense which erupted on Thursday to blowout Benicia. Henry Souza was especially sharp (again) allowing 2 hits in 5 innings to lower his already impressive ERA even further below 1.
The Dons offense, which was largely contained on Tuesday by sharp pitching, had little trouble with any of the 4 Benicia pitchers, including their ace, D Menjivar, who only lasted 1 inning. Barely. Acalanes 5 – Benicia 0. Benicia fought back in the bottom of the 1st, and scored 4 runs (2 earned) with the help of a couple of Dons errors, and mostly bad bounces on a suspect Benicia infield, outfield and slicing wind. The Dons defense and pitching were relentless the rest of the way, however.
And as good as the Dons defense and pitching were, the Dons offense put up huge numbers: 20 runs, 17 hits, 18 RBIs, 7 walks, 6 HBPs (3 by team leader Nico O’Rourke!). Kyle White led the Dons going 3 for 4 with FIVE RBIs a walk and 1 R. Miles Bergman had 2 hits, 1 walk and 3 R, while Will Berrien (sr) was 2 for 3 with 4R, 2RBI and 1 walk. Gavin Bender (so), Luke Souza (Sr), and Sammy Lee (Jr) also all had 2 hits. And … Dons also saw great PH ABs from Aidan Beers (2 RBI single), Aidan Nelson, Chase McReynolds, and Andrew Habas 1 for 2, 1R and 1 RBI. Great team effort from 13 hitters and 3 pitchers.
Next up for the Dons: The league championship is on the line with a two-game series vs league leading Clayton Valley (currently ties with the Dons) – home on Tuesday for Senior night and away on Thursday. Come support the Dons!