Donya Rouzbehi
Sports Editor
The Leopards lost 5-1 to the Whitworth Pirates in their first game of the season Feb. 13 at Ben Hines Field.
Despite the loss, head coach Scott Winterburn is optimistic about their performance going forward.
“There wasn’t a lot to like on the offensive side, other than I felt like our kids kept fighting,” Winterburn said. “But I liked the way our pitchers competed.”
Junior pitcher Justin Ries got the start for the Leopards, tossing five innings, allowing two runs on four hits to keep his team within striking distance. Senior shortstop Ryan Vosika tailed two hits and drew a walk.
Senior Aaron Whobrey made his debut at first base with quick defensive plays and a hit at the plate. Senior catcher Nathan Perry also added a hit for the Leopards.
To stay motivated for the spring season, the team reminds themselves about the “nine on one” motto that pushes them.
“So ‘nine on one’ is nine guys playing as one team against another team,” Aiden Salcedo, senior infielder, said. “As a pitcher, ‘nine on one’ means all of us are behind him.”
Salcedo drove in the Leopards’ only run of the game with a dribbler to Whitworth sophomore shortstop Yash Gupta, allowing Whobrey to score.
The Pirates hit three solo home runs and dominated the game early on. The Leopards fought to stay on base, drawing five walks as a team.
The Leopards’ offense faltered throughout the game. They struggled to bring in runs and even the score, leaving nine runners on base.
Andrew Wente, sophomore pitcher, thought the team felt timid due to first-game jitters.
“Our offense really wasn’t clicking today,” Wente said. “I think we could have batted a little bit better, but I think we’re going to be looking good this year, we just have to get more experience.”
Wente relieved sophomore pitcher Corbin Duffield, who gave up one run in three innings of work.
“I think the energy was calm today,” Duffield said. “Some highlights were that a lot of the new guys got opportunities. Despite them doing good or not, it’s good to get new guys in.”
The Leopards will play their next game at 2 p.m. Friday at Ben Hines Field against Linfield.
Donya Rouzbehi can be reached at donya.rouzbehi@laverne.edu.
Donya Rouzbehi is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism, and staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She has previously served as sports editor and a staff writer for the Campus Times, and is co-editor-in-chief of La Verne Magazine. Her other writing can be found at trillmag.com/author/donya-rouzbehi
Aaliyah Alamillo is a junior photography major and a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine.
