PASADENA, CA — The Philippines Baseball Group (4-16 CCL record) traveled to Jackie Robinson Field Wednesday night and took care of business, topping the Arroyo Seco Saints (15-17) 7-4. 

Similar to this last Saints win against the Barons, Arroyo Seco jumped out to an early lead. Joey Milto (Transfer Portal) notched an RBI single in the opening frame, and Luke Ballantyne (Biola) tossed three innings of one-run baseball. 

Specifically, Ballantyne looked particularly sharp in his three-inning outing. His lone dark spot was a Dylan Taguiam (The Masters College) RBI single in the opening half of the first inning. As Ballantyne concluded his three innings of work, he finished with two strikeouts and only three hits allowed. 

“I was just trying to throw strikes,” mentioned the Saints starter. “In a couple outings [prior to tonight], I was trying to throw too hard; tonight, I toned it down and tried to stay in the zone. It feels like you are throwing slower; control-wise, it feels like you have a lot of control.” 

The Philippines’ starting pitcher, Jonathan Manuel (California State University Los Angeles), did not have as much control as Ballantyne, as he had more walks and more runs allowed. The Saints scored two runs off Manuel on Milto’s single and a Cody Turner RBI groundout. 

Turner’s RBI groundout evened the score at two runs per side as the Philippines snagged a run of their own in the top of the fourth off Saints reliever Danny Veloz (Hawaii). 

The scoreboard remained locked at 2-2 until the sixth inning when JJ Fagfoomsintu (Pierce College) launched a solo home run over the left field fence, giving the Philippines the lead at 3-2. 

Turner combatted Fagfoomsintu’s bomb with an RBI single, scoring Milto, and Jax Ryan (Missouri State) crossed the plate by way of a throwing error on a play following Turner’s single. 

Milto was on base three out of his four at-bats, and he played a key role in most of the Saints’ offensive output Wednesday night. He spoke about how his ability to reach base frequently impacted his team.  

“It is huge, I was just trying to get on any way I could,” said Milto. “Getting on base allows us to get something started; hits are contagious.” 

After Arroyo Seco’s 4-3 lead at the end of the sixth, they would never lead again. The Philippines posted four runs in the final two innings to put the game out of the Saints’ reach. 

The quick, efficient innings posted by the Saints’ pitchers were non-existent in the final innings, allowing the Philippines Baseball Group to capitalize and close out their fourth CCL win of the season. 

Malakai Lopez (Riverside College) knocked a two-RBI double and an RBI single, accounting for three of his side’s final four runs. The last Philippines run came by way of a wild pitch. 

As Arroyo Seco’s pitching wavered in the final innings, so did their offense. All four of the Saints’ runs came in the first six innings. Only three Saints hitters reached base in the final three innings, and they were only able to muster one hit. 

“It is hard to get [a win] with four runs,” Milto commented. “It is big for us to get out to a bigger lead early in the game and keep on going.” 

However, while this loss may diminish the vibrations radiating from the Saints, they have clinched a CCL Playoff berth, which is the first step to having postseason success. 

Before the postseason, the Saints will have a few more opportunities to gain more and more positive momentum heading into the postseason. They host the Orange County Riptide at Jackie Robinson Field in Pasadena at 6:05 p.m. Friday night. 

Contributors:

• Saints reporter Tyler Bowne (San Diego State)
• Photographer Jordan Teller