PASADENA, CA – On a Friday night in Pasadena, two teams with different stories battled it out. The Arroyo Seco Saints (8-6) hosted the MLB Academy Barons (6-9) at Jackie Robinson Field. 

The Saints came into this game riding a two-game losing streak, losing both games to the Conejo Oaks, with their last loss coming this past Wednesday by a score of 10-7.  

With the Barons, it is quite a different story. They came in hot with a three-game winning streak, previously beating the Orange County Riptide 5-0 

The Barons also had an impressive defense streak on their hands coming into the contest; they have not allowed a run in 18 straight innings. So, the Barons were looking to keep their winning ways alive for this Friday night game.  

But the Saints would be the ones who got things started in the first inning and break the scoreless inning streak of the Barons. The Saints got out to an early 2-0 lead with an RBI single from Levi Maddela (Shorter) and an RBI walk from Jax Ryan (Arizona State).  

The scoring, however, would not stop there for the Saints, as their offense would explode in the third inning. Their effort started off with an RBI double from Joey Milto (portal), bringing in Jacob Freer (Azusa Pacific) and an RBI single from Ryan. 

Followed by a Keon Moseni (Central Arkansas) two-RBI double bringing home Ryan and Gannon Snyder (Wichita State).  

“Making adjustments in the cages on off days and not getting too mad or annoyed at my previous struggles,” Moseni spoke about his mindset coming into the game. “Trusting myself again having that ‘yes, yes, no’ approach, and swinging hard and good things were happening.” 

Finishing the RBI parade would be JJ Kennett (Baylor) and Freer, pushing the score to 8-0 in favor of the Saints.  

“We are not taking our losses too hard and [we are] moving on to the next,” Moseni commented on the Saints’ offensive performance. “The boys were hype [today], and it was just a good game.” 

But the spark would not go out for the Saints. As Milto would get things started in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run making it 9-0 Saints. 

“It’s always good to catch one on the barrel like that and see that go out,” said Milto in response to his second homerun of the season.  

A few batters later, Lane Hanworth (Wichita State) off a ground rule double, would bring home two more runners for the Saints. Right after that ground rule double, Trotter Enright (Cal State Long Beach) brought home Hanworth off an RBI single, extending the Saints’ lead to 12-0.  

Fast forward a little to the top of the sixth inning, and the Barons would finally get on the board. Tommy Goodin (Vanderbilt) would get an RBI double, and Jason Del Villar (Sonoma State) would get to home base due to a wild pitch. The Saints would still lead 12-2.  

In the top of eighth, the Barons would snag another run to add to the board coming from the bat of Isaac Ocampo (Golden West) making the score 12-3. The Barons would eventually have the bases loaded, but the Saints were able to sneak out of the inning without letting any more runs on the board.  

The final score of the game would be 12-3, with the Saints being victorious. Eight out of the nine starters for the Saints were able to get an RBI on their stat line.  

“It’s awesome to have guys one through nine, just being able to go up there and drive guys in,” Milto said. “Being in the situation to where anyone in the lineup can drive a guy in, it’s huge.” 

These teams will meet again on Sunday, June 29th, at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, California. But before that game, the Saints have another home game on their hands, as they host the San Diego Waves  

“Getting some runs early, getting out ahead early is a big deal,” Milto said on the game plan against the Waves. “Like we saw tonight that scored we scored early in the game and just putting them away instead of letting them hang around too long.” 

The game against the Waves will be played at Jackie Robinson Field, with the first pitch starting at 6:05 p.m.  

Contributors: 

• Saints reporter Nick Olquin (Ashland) 

• Edited by Saints reporter Tyler Bowne (San Diego State) 

• Saints’ photographer: Carina Sanchez (California State University Los Angeles)