CHYR, FLORES PUSH THE SAINTS TOWARDS AN ELECTRIC VICTORY AGAINST OC

With one out standing between the Arroyo Seco Saints (17-18) and a loss — one that would end their chances of making the CCL playoffs —  Brody Chyr (University of Nebraska) stepped to the plate with two runners on, down 6-4 in the top of the ninth.

Many held their breath at Great Park, players and fans alike, as the 2-1 pitch was delivered to Chyr. When he turned that pitch into a game-tying double, plating Dylan Immel (Undecided) and Owen Mangini (University of Nevada - Reno), the Saints lit up with hope as All-Star shortstop Brayden Flores (Loyola Marymount University) entered the batter's box.

As the Saints' rock all season long, this at-bat was no different: one full of motivation caused by the high energy spilling from the dugout. 

"Whenever the dugout's loud, that gives you an extra boost of confidence, and it makes the ball look fatter and [you] see it a lot better," Flores expressed. 

And indeed he saw the ball better, as he delivered the go-ahead RBI single to plate Chyr and give the Saints a 7-6 lead over the Orange County Riptide (26-16) that they wouldn't give up.

"It felt amazing to keep the season rolling," Flores said after sending the run home. 

Chyr remarked on what his game-tying hit meant for him: "It felt good to be able to come through for the guys and let us keep playing more baseball." As a new addition to the roster, Chyr explained his approach after Immel stole second, saying, "Just trying to get a single; keep it simple right there."

Arroyo Seco got on the board early, with back-to-back base hits from Flores and Evan Reiter (Santa Ana College) followed by Canon King's (University of California San Diego) two-run single to put the Saints in the lead in the first inning. 

Hudson Carvalho (University of Oregon) took the mound for the Saints. Across four innings, he struck out four Riptide batters while giving up 3 runs, although on just one hit. It was a star defensive start for Carvalho, who struck out the side in the third and assisted with several outs, showcasing his defense when he caught a sharp line drive to end the second. 

Orange County was able to score three runs in the fourth, eventually going up 5-2 by the end of the sixth. 

The Saints responded in the seventh; Mangini hit a towering double to plate King, followed by a Nick Nashiwa (Golden West College) sacrifice fly to bring in another run and keep the score close at 5-4. 

RHP Dylan Hoang (Villanova University) entered in the eighth inning, striking out three and allowing one run across the final two frames. With his electric outing to close the game, he was able to add to the Saints' three-game winning streak. 

Catcher Nick Nashiwa exited the game in the bottom of the 8th after a Riptide batter abruptly released his bat after completing his swing. The stands held silent as Nashiwa recovered, bringing in freshman bullpen catcher Dylan Garcia to step into Nashiwa's shoes. 

Although the Riptide were able to tack on a few more runs, the Saints ultimately prevailed in the ninth.

The Saints hope to continue this momentum going into the regular-season finale Sunday, with the goal to finish on a win and potentially earn a spot in the playoffs. As Flores said, "Just go and win every pitch." 

The Saints are on a streak and will look to continue it tomorrow against the Academy Barons (17-15). The last regular season game is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. in Pasadena. 

Contributors:

• Saints Reporter: Cynthia Fausto (University of California Irvine)

• Saints Photographer: Aaliyah Alamillo (University of La Verne)