Rios Shakes Off Tough First to Baffle Bethesda

By Brandon Petersen

For those baseball fans of a certain age, the name Greg Maddux is of the household variety. 

Maddux was a starting pitcher who won the World Series with the Atlanta Braves. 

He was a master tactician on the mound, using speed variation and pin-point control to flummox hitters and eventually earn himself a spot in the Hall of Fame. 

But for as good as Maddux was, he was also notorious for disastrous first innings. 

Part of what made Maddux so good was his ability to recover in games that didn't start well. 

Just as often as Maddux put himself at a disadvantage early in a game so too did he quickly lock down and dominate the rest of the game. 

Such was the script for the Westcliff No. 1 starter Eddie Rios Wednesday at the Great Park, where the Warriors honored their fallen friend, former Westcliff pitcher JJ Sanchez, with a pregame moment of silence, then followed up with a tidy 5-4 win over Bethesda in the first of two. 

Rios left a couple fastballs up in the top of the first and Flames made him pay. 

All told, Bethesda touched up Rios for four runs, all earned, on three hits and a pair of walks.

But that was it. 

From then on it was Maddux Time for Rios, who would go on to toss five and two-thirds of one-hit ball, racking up eight strikeouts along the way. 

"I felt pretty good," Rios said. "Despite being on short days rest, my arm was feeling good, my body was feeling good. 

"It was a tough first inning, it happens though."

Rios threw 105 pitches, and 73 for strikes (70%). 

Chance Shipley, coming off a five-inning, no-hit performance just a couple of days ago in Long Beach, took over for Rios with two down and one on in the seventh. 

Shipley quickly ended that threat, then locked down the rest of the way for a two-plus inning save featuring four strikeouts. 

"Chance Shipley did a really good job," Rios said. "He was also on short days rest, and for him to come in, in that position, two outs, guy on first.

"He came through, got out of it. That was huge for him, he's really going to be great for us this year.

"The Bullpen is going to be huge for us."

The top of the order was exceptional for the Warriors Wednesday. 

Caleb Castanchoa (3-for-4) used the entire field to exactly nobody's surprise, spraying three singles and scoring on Ian Avalos' two-run double in the bottom of the first. 

Daniel Esqueda (2-for-4) led off and also scored after reaching on a single. 

Avalos scored on Jakob Taylor's fielder's choice two batters later. 

Taylor sac-flied Micah Wallette home in the bottom of the fourth, and Esqueda made it 5-4 with a single up the middle scoring Miguel España. 

The win put the Warriors over .500 with a 3-2 record. 

The mark is light years ahead of the last year's pace.

"Last year we did a lot of great things, went pretty far," Rios said. "But I think this squad we have here is pretty special. Everyone likes each other, everyone is always in a good mood. No negativity in the dugout. 

"This year with this squad we have, it's going to be really special. I'm really happy."

GAME 2 RECAP

In a back-and-forth affair, Bethesda was able to notch two in the top of the seventh to secure a 7-6 win. 

Kyle Douphner got the start for the Warriors and was north of solid, scattering six over five full, while striking out five.

Douphner allowed just three earned and nary a walk. 

Castanchoa was fantastic at the dish once again, racking up three more hits while scoring a run and driving one in. 

Esqueda showed out as well, this time going 2-for-3 with three runs scored. 

Avalos (2 RBI), Eddie Rivero (2-for-4, R), Nick Malvini (RBI) and Zane Parmenter all reached base on hits. 

With the loss, the Warriors dropped to 3-3 on the young season. 

Westcliff meets Bethesda again Saturday at Long Beach City College. 

First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Warriors Skipper Dylan Hoffman is likely to send Camden Cooper, the 6-4 right-hander out of Upland, to the hill. 

To contact Brandon Petersen, e-mail brandonpetersen@westcliff.edu.