PASADENA, CA — The Arroyo Seco Saints (9-6) narrowly topped the visiting San Diego Waves (8-10) at Jackie Robinson Field Saturday night by a score of 10-9. 

The Saints have now scored 22 runs in their last two games and have won both of said games. Pitching Coach Aaron Treloar commented on how important consistent run support is for the team. 

“When we aim to work a pitch count, we’re pretty good,” said Treloar. “We have not shot ourselves in the foot as much these last couple of games, which has been good to see. [Our pitchers] are able to focus on just being in the zone, instead of [putting a great emphasis] on pitch sequencing.” 

Arroyo Seco jumped out to a rapid 8-2 lead through the first four innings. Drawing walks and finding ways to get on base paid dividends for the Saints on Saturday night. 

Jacob Freer (Azusa Pacific) kicked off the offense’s scoring with a clutch two-out RBI single, driving in Lane Haworth (Transfer Portal). 

The second inning was less eventful than its opening counterpart, but the third frame provided some fireworks. Joey Milto’s (Transfer Portal) sacrifice fly, Matthew Mainord’s (Oral Roberts) two-RBI double and Cody Turner’s (Lee University) RBI double propelled the Saints to a 5-2 lead. 

The Waves’ two runs came after Elijah Cook (Azusa Pacific) brought in two of his Waves teammates via a fielding error from Freer. Prior to the two runs, Saints starting pitcher Joseph Estrada (Lewis and Clark State) sat six Waves hitters down in order. 

The fourth inning was more of the same for the Saints. Freer and Jax Ryan (Missouri State) each had RBI base knocks, and Mainord notched his second RBI hit of the night. After four, the Saints held a commanding 8-2 lead over the Waves. 

Mainord has not been a regular starter for Arroyo Seco so far this summer and has been trying to find his way. He spoke about his performance and mindset after the win. 

“It is a good feeling,” said the Saints catcher. “Also, being able to perform while playing baseball means everything. [I try to] find one thing to get better at every day; I am working on my swing every day so that it pays off on the field.” 

Trying to match the Saints’ offensive intensity, the Waves determined that they were not done yet. They scored four unanswered runs in the next three and a half innings and drew the score closer to 8-6 heading into the home half of the eighth. 

Saturday night’s tug-of-war contest was very much alive and well, even as the game came to a close. Levi Maddela (Transfer Portal) reached on an error, enabling Haworth and Ryan to cross the plate and push the Saints’ lead to 10-6 as the ninth inning loomed. 

For Arroyo Seco, Andrew Citron (Georgetown) was tasked with getting the final three outs. Unfortunately, that task came with its hurdles. Citron was unable to command the zone and gave up a few free bases to the Waves. The opposing offense would capitalize and mount a comeback that had an essence of the one formulated by the Waves in the Saints’ first game of the summer. 

Simply put, the Waves tallied three in their half of the ninth as Citron escaped a bases-loaded jam and put another W in the win column for his team. 

The Saints’ 10-9 victory did not come without its kinks. Various fielding errors and wild pitches ran amok in Pasadena on Saturday night and both Coach Treloar and Mainord shared a few words regarding their team’s sloppy mistakes. 

“Everyone is here to develop, here to learn,” said an optimistic Treloar. “If you go through some bad ruts defensively [it is not the end of the world]; you are going to go through some highs and some lows.” 

“Baseball will throw a lot of things at you, and if you are not locked in one time, it could fall down on you,” Mainord commented. “[We try] to stay in rhythm and just let things happen.” 

The good thing about baseball is there is always the next game that provides the opportunity to right wrongs.  

The Saints will make the short venture to MLB Youth Academy in Compton to visit the MLB Academy Barons. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. 

Contributors:

• Saints reporter Tyler Bowne (San Diego State)
• Saints photographer Bella Calagna (Trinity College)