PASADENA, CA – The Arroyo Seco Saints (4-1) defeated the Orange County Riptide (3-4) at Jackie Robinson Field with a final score of 11-4.  

With a playoff history between the two teams, they were both looking to earn a victory. Last season, the Riptide topped the Saints in the CCL Wildcard round.  

Trotter Enright (Cal State Long Beach) explained the Saints’ game plan against the Riptide, who have also been on a winning streak.  

“We know they’re a good team, but we also know that we’re a good team as well,” Enright shared.  

Head coach Aaron Milam opted for Max Newhart (Transfer Portal) to start on the mound.  

In the first two innings, Newhart allowed no runs and only one hit in his first-ever start for the Saints. Bradley Navarro (University of Utah) attempted to kickstart the Riptide’s offense with a lead-off triple, but the Riptide couldn’t get through Newhart. 

The Saints wasted no time in getting their offense started, with two singles from Eli Lopez (Cal State Fullerton) and Enright. 

 With an RBI walk, Jacob Freer (Azusa Pacific) brought in Lopez. Lane Haworth (Transfer Portal) put up a sac fly RBI to make the score 2-0 heading into the second inning.  

The Saints continued their momentum in the second, with a single from Levi Maddela (Transfer Portal). Enright followed with a 3-run RBI double and Jax Ryan (Arizona State) added a two-run RBI double.  

Haworth extended the Saint’s lead 9-0 with an RBI double to close out the second inning.  

Brady Nelson (Transfer Portal) came into the next two innings allowing no runs as the Riptide were unable to chip away at the Saints’ lead.  

The Saints had a scoreless third inning but kept their red-hot offense going into the fourth with an RBI single from Jonny Garber (Arizona State), tallying the score to 11-0.  

After only two hits for the Riptide in the first five innings, Jonathan Rodriguez (UNLV) blasted off a 2-run homerun to bring in Navarro after a single.  

The Saints’ offense stayed fairly quiet towards the end of the game, but the Riptide’s offense continued to fight back in the remaining innings with an RBI single from Reid Montgomery (Long Beach State), adding one more to the board.  

To end the game, Rodriguez pounded an RBI single for the Riptide, bringing the final score to 11-4.  

On the offensive side, the Saints started off strong, scoring 11 runs on nine hits in the first four innings.  

One of the Saints’ offensive standouts, Trotter Enright, shared that comfortability has been the key to the offenses’ success so far this summer.  

“We’re just an aggressive team, and we don’t have much doubt in ourselves,” Enright said. “We’re an all-or-nothing team, we go full force and don’t hold back.”  

The Saints’ pitching staff has also flourished this season. Starting pitcher Max Newhart and reliever Brady Nelson shut down the Riptide in the first half of the game, allowing no runs.  

In a post-game interview with Nelson, a third-year Saint, he shares his thoughts on the team’s momentum so far this season.  

“This is my third year back, and we have a great group of guys,” Nelson shared. “This energy is already here, and we’ve shown it.” 

Looking ahead, the Saints will face the Riptide once again, but this time on their home turf. This will be the Saints’ first away game of the season at The Great Park in Irvine, CA. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.  

Contributors:

• Saints reporter Taylor Dowdy (Arizona)
• Edited by Saints reporter Tyler Bowne (San Diego State)
• Saints photographer Bella Calagna (Trinity College)