(Photo: Samantha Farsky/WCSN)
In the deciding game of the Maroon and Gold World Series (MGWS) and the series tied 2-2, redshirt junior infielder Kyle Walker hit a three-run shot that put Gold up four runs that Maroon could not make up, clinching the MGWS 3-2 for the Gold team. In game five, Maroon’s’ response to Gold’s offense was a comedy of errors, walks and hit-by-pitches that cost Maroon the game as they lost to Gold 10-1.
The fall ball rust was apparent for Maroon as they had three errors, three wild pitches, five walks, and two hit-by-pitches. The mistakes were the catalyst of eight of the ten Gold’s runs. The first error was from freshman second baseman Beckett Zavorek who after making a tough catch misfired on his throw to first baseman Manny Garza and that runner eventually scored. Sophomore first baseman Cole Carlon misfired on a throw to home that scored junior Nu’u Contrades from third and redshirt sophomore Brandon Compton from second.
The third error was a redshirt junior Jonathon Hernandez fielding error at third base, this error did not cost the Maroon team any runs. A wild pitch from sophomore Brok Eddy scored a run. Junior Sean Fitzpatrick pitched to five Gold batters failing to get any of them out, going hit by pitch, single, walk, hit by pitch and walk. The next pitcher, sophomore right-handed pitcher Alec Belardes walked a batter that scored a run.
The majority of the Maroon pitchers struggled, and it started with Carlon. Four runs crossed in his two innings of work although only three were earned. The sophomore looked shaky, but he topped out at 93 and allowed four hits with three strikeouts. As mentioned, Fitzpatrick also struggled, failing to get a Gold batter out. He topped out at 89 with two hit-by-pitches, two walks, a hit culminating in three earned runs.
Belardes allowed one of Fitzpatrick’s inherited runners to score on a walk. It almost was worse, on a pop up to senior shortstop Matt King who bobbled the catch but saved
three runs. Belardes struggled in the next inning, allowing two additional walks and a hit. Three runs were charged to him but two were unearned due to the Carlon error.
Conversely, the Gold team pitchers looked great. Starter Easton Barrett threw two innings topping out at 91. The freshman had three walks, a hit, and three strikeouts not allowing a run. Sophomore Wyatt Halverson allowed a run in his two innings topping out at 91 on the radar gun. Halverson allowed two walks, a hit and three strikeouts. Sophomores Jaden Alba pitched a clean inning with two strikeouts topping out at 94. Sophomore Rohan Lettow continued the Gold pitching dominance with a clean inning with a strikeout topping out at 94. Finally, senior Wil Koger wrapped up the series with heat getting up to 97 mph. Koger threw two strikeouts in his clean inning.
The gold team’s offense was golden. Seven of the nine batters reached base safely. They were highlighted by Contrades who went three for three with three singles and a walk scoring three times and Walker who went one for three with four RBIs and a run. A three-run home run and an RBI walk highlighted Walker’s day. Brandon Compton scored three runs and had two walks. Sophomore Jax Ryan had an RBI single and scored. Freshman Ky McGary singled had a stolen base and scored. Senior captain Jacob Tobias had an RBI walk.
The Maroon team lacked offense. Although seven batters reached base, there were only two hits total. One was an RBI single from Jonathan Hernandez scoring junior Kien Vu. The Maroon team left plenty of runners on base including leaving the bases loaded in the second. Freshman Beckett Zavorek’s bad baserunning did not help the Maroon team. He got picked off first and got caught stealing in both appearances he reached first
The next time the Maroon and Gold play it will be as one team as the Sun Devils kick off regular season play with a three-game series against Ohio State on February 14th through 16th.
