PASADENA, CA – In Thursday’s, July 17th matchup, the Saints are looking for a key victory against the Conejo Oaks. Both teams come into today’s game having had the last three days off for the California Collegiate League Showcase. 

Both teams had multiple participants to play in the Wednesday Showcase. For the Oaks, they had Ethan Gonzalez (Cal State Los Angeles), Jacob Galloway (Oregon State), Tyler Holley (Cal State Fullerton), Gabe Howard (Oregon), Devon Wilkes (Cal State Bakersfield), and Charlie Decker (Pugent Sound) 

The players representing the Saints were Joey Milto (transfer portal), Trotter Enright (Cal State Long Beach), Nolan McCraken (transfer portal), Levi Maddela (transfer portal), and Zach Erdman (Purdue) as an alternate. Lane Haworth was also selected for the showcase but did not play due to going to Texas and committing to UTSA.  

As of July 17th, the current standings in the CCL have the Oaks ranked second in the South division, with the Saints being outside of the playoffs, looking in at the fourth seed. The top three teams in each division make the playoffs for the CCL. 

For the Saints to have a shot at making the playoffs, they have to get back to the win column and end their three-game losing streak. They currently sit five games behind the Orange County Riptide.  

But they are going to have a tough matchup against them tonight in the Conejo Oaks. In the last seven games for the Oaks, they have won six. The only game they dropped was a 7-6 loss to the Santa Barbara Foresters.  

The last time both teams played was against each other back on Sunday, July 13th. The Oaks won that game with a final score of 4-1. The only run for the Saints game in the final inning with an RBI WALK from Jacob Freer (Azusa Pacific) to bring Enright.  

This game will see the Saints push hard for the playoffs, and see the Oaks keep their momentum going into the CCL playoffs. The game is set to start at 6:05 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Field.  

Contributors:

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