FLOWSTATE

By Brandon Petersen

In a game that carried early postseason implications, Cameron Witte delivered the kind of performance that can define a season.

The Westcliff right-hander was in complete control Friday night, tossing seven scoreless innings and striking out 10 to lead the Warriors to a 13-2 win over Simpson at OC Great Park.

The victory extended Westcliff's winning streak to six games and marked a statement opening to a critical conference series.

"First of all, all glory to God," Witte said. "I can't do any of that without Him. He gives you the strength to persevere."

From the first pitch, Witte looked locked in.

Working with confidence and command, he limited Simpson to just five hits across seven innings, navigating traffic when needed and consistently winning at-bats with a sharp, late-breaking slider that kept hitters off balance all night.

"Grip it and rip it, man," Witte said. "A lot of training, a lot of outside hours. You just grind it out and be consistent with it. Stay closed and let it eat."

The outing wasn't just dominant — it was composed.

Even as the innings wore on and fatigue began to set in, Witte never wavered, continuing to attack the zone and trust his preparation.

"You get tired in that sixth, seventh inning," he said. "I was just able to keep fighting and get through it. Some of those innings, I kind of blacked out at the end. It felt good. It was a good day to be a Warrior."

Behind him, the Warriors' offense wasted no time providing support.

Patrick Morgan ignited the scoring in the first inning with a two-run triple, and Jack Varney followed with an RBI single to give Westcliff an early 3-0 lead.

The Warriors continued to apply pressure in the second, adding two more runs before breaking the game open in the fifth. Varney launched a solo home run, Kailen Kimata ripped a two-run triple, and Morgan delivered an RBI double as part of a six-run frame that stretched the lead to 11-0.

Westcliff finished with 16 hits on the night, with Morgan driving in four runs and Varney going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a home run. Martin Sanchez added three hits, while Landon Raskin and Ryan Duron each contributed multi-hit performances.

But the story of the night belonged to Witte.

Facing Simpson — a key conference rival and a team that could ultimately factor into the Warriors' playoff positioning — Westcliff understood the magnitude of the moment. And instead of tightening up, the Warriors leaned into it.

"We knew a lot was riding on this," Witte said. "But the one thing we didn't do today was let it get to us. We stayed calm throughout the entire game and just put it together as a team."

That calm translated into one of the team's most complete performances of the season — dominant on the mound, explosive at the plate, and steady throughout.

"This is what we've been trying to do all year," Witte said. "Being able to play a real conference team, it felt like all the pressure was on them."

Former Simpson hurler Boston Souza worked the final two innings in relief, allowing a pair in the eighth, but the result was never in doubt.

With the opener secured, Westcliff now turns its attention to the rest of the series, carrying both momentum and confidence into the weekend.

"We've got two tomorrow," Witte said. "All the momentum's with us. I'm excited to watch it happen."

And on a night where everything seemed to slow down for the Warriors' ace, Westcliff found itself exactly where it wants to be — in rhythm, in control, and surging at the right time.

The double-dip will go down with Simpson tomorrow at Long Beach City College.

First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.