March 24, 2024

Rios Delivers Masterful Performance, WU Wins DH

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By Francisco Claudio
 
The Warriors needed some conference game wins to keep their postseason hopes alive.
 
So they called up starting pitcher and a core member of this program, Eddie Rios, who delivered a masterful performance in the first game of the doubleheader on Friday.
 
The Westcliff baseball team took care of business behind Rios' strong game to win 13-0 and 8-4 against the Providence Christian Sea Beggars.
 
With the wins, the Warriors (11-17, Cal Pac 4-6) are just one game back from the fifth seed. The top five teams in the conference qualify for the postseason, so the upcoming weeks are crucial and motivating for the team.
 
Game 1 of the doubleheader was very much one-sided as soon as the Warriors scored their first runs in the bottom of the 2nd.
 
WU scored three runs in the 2nd, two in the 4th, and three in the 5th and 6th innings.
 
The 'mercy rule' took into effect in the 7th as the Warriors were up by more than 10 runs to end the game early.
 
Rios went all seven innings and tallied 70 strikes on 110 pitches. He struck out 10 batters, walked four, and only allowed one hit.
 
So close to achieving a no-hitter, the team was visibly frustrated, as they were hoping their pitcher would succeed.
 
But there was still lots to be happy about as the team played well.
 
The Warriors landed 12 hits which resulted in 13 runs scored.
 
Kolby Wagatsuma went 3-for-4 and continues to be one of the more consistent hitters this year with a batting average of .385. 
 
Damien Holmes went 3-for-4 as well with four runs and 3 RBIs.
 
Nick Malvin filled the box score going 2-for-3 while scoring three runs and bringing in 6 RBIs.
 
"Today was very important for us to grow and find success moving forward," said head coach Dylan Hoffman after the games. "Rios came out there attacked them right away and gave up just one hit in the last inning. 
 
"That's the vintage Rios we know, the one we support and we know will have our back every single game he's up on the mound."
 
In the second game, the Sea Beggars fought hard and managed to score a couple of runs, but Westcliff also secured the victory with runs in the 4th and 8th innings.
 
Ian Avalos went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs and one run scored.
 
Eddie Rivero and Malvini were both 2-for-4.
 
Shortstop Zane Parmenter went 2-for-3 and scored two runs. Parmenter has been elite on the defensive end for the Warriors and makes everyone else feel reassured with his presence on the field.
 
Chance Shipley was the starting pitcher and went for 2.1 innings while tallying up three strikeouts on 54 pitches.
 
Shipley allowed three runs on two hits.
 
Kyle Douphner came in for Shipley and threw the remaining 6.2 innings striking out four and only allowing one run on seven hits.
 
"Shipley had a rough start but we know he's better than that and we know what he's capable of doing," Hoffman said. "Douphner came out had his back and supported him through the rest of the game."
 
HC Hoffman was pleased with how the team approached the game and the results that came from it: "All the bats were great and we turned singles into a double mentality. We saw that with the throwing errors and being able to execute the first to second and the second to third.
 
"Really happy to see us working on all cylinders."
 
But this team isn't one to sit on their victories as they look forward to what's to come and the bigger picture.
 
"We already put today's game behind us," Hoffman said. "We focus on the inning in front of us, the pitch in front of us. Every pitch and every inning leads up to the greater purpose of things. 
 
"Having the right guys supporting it and buying in is what's going to help us succeed. Right now we have all 53 guys buying in and it's becoming a great program with a lot of knowledge and effort."
 
On days like this, we can see the potential of what this team is capable of and the brewing of something greater to come.
 
The offense, in particular, has been improving, with players making solid contact with the bat.
 
"We have the philosophy of the next man up on offense," Hoffman said. "We like to trust the guy on deck and trust the guy in the pen that's coming up behind you. 
 
"We want to build that trust and the philosophy to improve on what we can do moving forward."