PASADENA, CA – On Saturday, July 12th, both the Arroyo Seco Saints and the Conejo came into the game, both riding a one-game losing streak. One team would leave with ending it, and the other would continue with the losing skid.  

Once the game started, the Oaks got right to work. They opened the scoring with a Landon West SAC fly to bring in Jacob Galloway. But the very next hitter, Tyler Holley, blasted a two-run homerun to make the lead 3-0 after the first inning.  

The score would remain 3-0 through the sixth inning. But throughout the game, the Saints did not give up fighting in their game.  

“We got a bunch of ball players on this team, everyone is on the side of winning,” Levi Maddela (Shorter) commented on the Saints’ effort throughout the game.  

And that effort, with the never-give-up mentality, the Saints found a way to get back in the game. In the aforementioned sixth inning, the Saints got onto the board due to a Trotter Enright (Cal State Long Beach State) RBI WALK, getting Jackson Reed (Seattle) to home plate. 

In the next batter for the Saints, they would find a way to tie the game. Jax Ryan (Arizona State) would earn himself an RBI WALK, but a throwing error by the catcher to the pitcher would let Lane Haworth (portal) come and grab the tying run.  

The Saints would tie the game without even recording a hit during that inning. They were able to tie, due to the pitching staff for the game. Starting pitcher for the Saints, Luke Ballantyne, Tyler Herges, and Chris Hernandaz-Vides all combined for 11 strikeouts.  

“Pitching is very well,” Maddela said on the pitchers’ performances. “Just both sides of the ball for offense and defense, and pitches are working together.” 

However, in the top of the eighth inning, Jake Schwartz entered the batting box without recording a hit on the day. But he would smash a go-ahead solo homerun to give the Oaks a 4-3 lead.  

That inning for the Oaks would be followed by more runs in the ninth inning. Brady Hewitt would extend the lead with an RBI single, but a throwing error by the Saints would let the Oaks score two more runs. Making the score 7-3 entering the final frame of the game. 

Even with the game seeming out of reach, the Saints did not give up hope once again. Cody Turner (Lee) would get on base with a single and then find his way home due to a wild pitch.  

That run for the Saints would be followed up by a Maddela groundout RBI to bring home Reed, making the score now 7-5. But despite the comeback effort, the Saints would fall short, making that 7-5 score the outcome.  

The Saints and Oaks will play again, and the Saints are looking to fix their mishaps to get back on a winning streak.  

“I think it’s just a couple mistakes that we can narrow down to make it successful,” Maddela said. “Pitching doing well, and our defense doing well, then we’ll be okay. ‘ 

Tomorrow’s matchup between Arroyo Seco and Conejo will be played on Sunday, July 13th, at “Sparky” Anderson Field in Thousand Oaks, at 1 p.m.  

Contributors:

• Saints reporter: Nick Olquin (Ashland)
• Saints photographer: Bella Calagna (Trinity)