COMPTON, CA – Tuesday night, July 22nd, the Arroyo Seco Saints traveled to Compton to face off against the MLB Academy Barons for a key game for the playoffs. If the Saints won the game, a playoff berth was going to be in their hands.  

The Saints had to get out fast to start the game if they wanted to make it into the playoffs, and they did that certainly, with help from the Barons. 

In the first inning, Jackson Reed (Seattle) was on first base and trying to steal second. The starting pitcher for the Barons, Isaac Fernandez, saw that and tried to get him out. 

While on third base, Jacob Freer (Azusa Pacific) saw this play and took a run for home plate to get the Saints on the board first. Later in the inning, Reed was able to find home plate off a wild pitch, to make the score 2-0 Saints after one.  

In the top of the second inning, the Saints were able to get bases loaded, with Reed back up to bat. Reed was hit by a pitch, making all the runners advance to earn another run. 

The score was now 3-0 in favor of Arroyo Seco, without any of their players recording an RBI through those two innings.  

Fast forward to the fourth inning, Trotter Enright (Cal State Long Beach) was up to bat. Planting his feet in the dirt, Enright was able to make good contact on the ball, with enough power to get over the right field wall.  

The Saints now led it, 4-0, with Enright’s second homerun of the season.  

The starting pitcher for the Saints tonight was two-way player, Cody Turner (Lee University). Turner pitched a full five innings, all of them scoreless, and having six strikeouts.  

“[It’s] just a mentality, just go out there and get this guy out no matter what,” Turner said on his game approach. “Push forward through to the next pitch, I could have a bad AB, but at least I can help my guys out on the mound.” 

The game remained scoreless since that Enright solo homerun. But before the scoring efforts for the Saints were over, in the top of the 8th, Keon Moseni (Central Arkansas) was up to bat. 

And alike Enright, Moseni was able to get power behind his swing to get the ball over the right field wall.  

“Just kind of get the pitch I wanted, and I did,” Moseni said. “I put a good swing on it, and I’ve been making some adjustments and it’s just been feeling really good to see it work out.” 

It was another solo homerun for the Saints, making the score 5-0.  

But the Barons were not done themselves; they were able to grab some magic and get some runs for their score.  

It started with Jason Del Villar (Sonoma State) with an RBI double to bring home Nathaniel Williams (Santa Ana College). Followed up by Antonio Lujan (Azusa Pacific) two run RBI single to make the score 5-3 Arroyo Seco.  

The Barons were looking for more runs, Alejandro Torres up to bat (Hope International). But Reed was able to make a specular catch near the left field wall to get the third and final out. 

Both teams would have a scoreless ninth inning, meaning the Saints were able to sneak away with a victory in a 5-3 contest.  

“We’re feeling great,” Moseni said about how the team is feeling after the win. “We needed that one, and we got the job done.” 

With four more games left in the season, Moseni and the Saints are looking to find momentum into a hopeful playoff run. 

“Just keep having fun, play loose, and play for each other,” he said.  

The Saints will look to do that in their next game. It will be Wednesday, July 23rd, against the Philippines Baseball Group, at Jackie Robinson Field at 6:05 p.m. 

Contributors:

• Saints reporter: Nick Olquin (Ashland)
• Saints photographer: Carina Sanchez (Cal State San Marcos)