PASADENA, CA — The Arroyo Seco Saints (7-6) play host to the MLB Academy Barons (6-8) at Jackie Robinson Field at 6:05 p.m. tonight. 

The Saints hope to buck their recent trend as they hope to avoid losing three straight games Friday night. Their prior two losses came at the hands of the 2024 California Collegiate League Champion Conejo Oaks.  

In those games, the Saints had good pitching, but a less-than-average offense (lost 4-1) and then a solid offensive output, but a lackluster pitching performance (lost 10-7). 

However, Arroyo Seco’s opponent, the Barons, has been a below-average team so far in 2025 and has already lost to the Saints this summer. 

In that game, the Saints only allowed one run and scored eight for themselves. Also, the game was at Jackie Robinson Field; the Saints tend to play well at home. 

Recently, the Saints have had many away games and have struggled to find their stride both offensively and on the mound. Inconsistencies will haunt any team and, over a long period of time, can derail a season. 

Key offensive absences have plagued Arroyo Seco as of late. Eli Lopez (Cal State Fullerton) and Noah Williams (Colorado State Pueblo) have missed multiple games in the past couple of weeks.  

Trotter Enright (Long Beach State) has stayed relatively consistent at the top of the lineup, but some other Saints have struggled to follow Enright’s lead. 

Like the offense, the pitching staff has faced their share of strife. Inconsistent efforts have emerged to nag the Saints on the bump. Luke Ballantyne (Biola) and Zack Erdman (Transfer Portal) have led the charge and Ethan Moran (Transfer Portal) has added some stability, too. 

Despite the Barons’ subpar record, they have won three straight contests, scoring 22 combined runs in those games.  

Offensively for the Barons, Tommy Goodin (Vanderbilt) and Antonio Lujan (Azusa Pacific) jump off the page with 12 and 9 RBIs apiece, respectively. 

The Barons’ pitchers can be volatile at times; they will either shut an offense down or give up a grand number of runs, there is really not an in-between. 

With that being said, the Saints will look to get the bats going early and often, hoping to get out of the brief rut they have been stuck in. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Field. 

Contributors:

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