by Agke Grow
Sports Editor
Baseball season is here, and excitement is in the air. Maybe too much excitement, as far as the University of La Verne baseball team is concerned.
“There was some first ballgame nervous energy,” said head coach Bobby Lee.
The Leopards took the field at Occidental College for their season opener last Friday, and first game jitters were evident. Anxious swings of the bat produced only four hits for ULV, and La Verne lost, 5-4.
“They threw a no-hitter through six (innings),” said senior Garren Injijian, an All-SCIAC Second Team outfielder last year. “We were a little tight.”
“We came out flat,” said senior second baseman Corey Rooper “We weren’t expecting much. We weren’t ready to play, and no matter how strong your opponent is, you have to play up to your ability. We didn’t do that.”
The butterflies settled down for La Verne when they met Occidental the next day, and the contest at Ben Hines Field was a completely different story.
La Verne played a relaxed, focused game, and a 13-2 victory was the result.
Junior Jon Cruz pitched six scoreless innings, gave up only five hits, and picked two runners off at first base in a winning effort.
The Leopards collected 14 hits, including a two-run home run by junior infielder Aaron Hill and a grand slam by freshman outfielder Ray Podesta.
Occidental only managed six hits before the game was called due to darkness in the middle of the eighth inning.
“We played our own game,” said Injijian. “We were a bit looser.”
“We actually swung the bat today,” said Lee. “When we try to do too much, that’s when we get in trouble.”
Saturday’s game, scheduled as the first of a doubleheader, began late due to a wet field, and darkness delayed the second game of the doubleheader until Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
When the game was finally played, La Verne proved that they had overcome any nervousness that held them back in the first game of the series. The Leopards executed well, and exploded offensively en route to a 19-8 win.
Patient at-bats and erratic pitching from Occidental resulted in 12 walks and 17 hits for La Verne, including a three-run double in the second inning by junior first baseman Nathan Devine. ULV loaded the bases in each of the first four innings.
Senior Bo Balzar started on the mound for ULV, and pitched five solid innings for the win. Senior Brett Kalcevich and freshman Neal Houska came out of the bullpen to finish the game off.
Said Lee after the victory, “We learned not to take things for granted, and no matter what, don’t forget to compete.”
The Leopards won the first series of the season, and advanced to 2-1 overall, 2-1 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).
ULV opens a three-game series against Claremont today at 2:30 at Claremont.
Agke Grow
