Sun Devils bring intensity in Maroon and Gold scrimmage

PHOENIX – Phoenix Municipal Stadium was filled with shouts, trash talking and a certain enthusiasm often not found in a scrimmage. However, most of the excitement did not come from the fans. Instead, it came from both dugouts.

For Arizona State baseball, the Maroon and Gold intrasquad scrimmage offers a different perspective than a normal matchup. On Wednesday night, the Maroon team came away with a 10-7 win against the Gold team. The matchup not only showed the potential of the team’s ability to perform ahead of the official season in March, but also showed the competitive fire that is burning within the team.

“I want to see intensity,” head coach Willie Bloomquist said. “This should be the most intense week of the fall for these guys.”

The intensity was visible as both dugouts were exchanging disses during all seven innings of play. However, the Maroon side seemed to have quite a bit more spirit–barking at the opposing dugout in an attempt to get in their heads. 

The Maroons were led by Jackson Hotchkiss, a Washington transfer who led the Huskies roster with a batting average of .339 and tallied 20 home runs last season, tying for third-most in a single season in UW history. 

“He has the ability to put the ball in the seats, and he likes hitting here,” Bloomquist said. “He’s going to be a big, big key for us this year.”

Hotchkiss completed a hat trick, as he racked up three home runs and accounted for five of ten runs for Maroon–two of those being two-run home runs. 

His first came off a pitch from Gold’s starting pitcher, Austin Musso. Musso, a second-year, made 11 appearances in the 2026 season, debuting his first collegiate season with 20 strikeouts for the Sun Devils.

Musso delivered a ball right down the middle, and Hotchkiss capitalized on the opportunity, as he swung and sent a ball past the wall in deep left field. He returned to home plate with the rest of his teammates waiting and ready to celebrate. Hotchkiss burst into the air, colliding with his teammates who erupted in cheers.

“It’s huge having your guys behind you,” Hotchkiss said. “Without that, everything is dead.”

While the ex-Washington star grabbed the attention, he was not the only Sun Devil who produced a home run for Maroon, nor the only Jackson. 

In the bottom of the sixth, catcher Jackson Weber, a highly anticipated first-year player known for his versatility and raw power, added to the scoring column with a home run.

“We just focus on one thing. It’s just winning one pitch at a time,” Hotchkiss said. “We were just attacking; I think that’s huge, and if you don’t do that, you’re not setting yourself up for success.”

Late in the fifth inning, the scoreboard read 10-3 in favor of Maroon; however, Team Gold found a little bit of life remaining in the dugout. First-year infielder Jet Berry hit a single and added a run with an RBI. Shortly after, second-year Davis Perkins produced a double, resulting in two RBI’s, then stole third base.

With 2 outs, Dominic Smaldino stepped up to bat for Gold. The fourth-year, who accounted for the first two runs of the game, earned Big 12 Second Team honors in the 2026 season. With a runner on third and a count of 3-2, Smaldino sent the ball flying high to deep center field. Unfortunately for Smaldino, the ball fell just short of the wall, landing in the glove of Maroon’s center fielder, Sam Myers, ending the scrimmage.

Both teams met in the center of the field, signaling “good game” to each other. 

“This is as close as we can get to a regular-season game, intensity-wise,” Bloomquist said, 

While the Sun Devils attempted to match regular-season intensity, they’re struggling to match one specific element that is key to a team’s success.

“We coaches have a lot of work to do, not only from a baseball standpoint, but from a team chemistry and culture standpoint in our locker room,” Bloomquist said. “This year is arguably the most challenging year we’ve had on that front.”

Last season, players explicitly praised the team’s clubhouse culture and off-field camaraderie. But as the fall season progresses, both Bloomquist and the players look at the element as something they have to spend time improving.

“Hopefully these guys will start understanding the importance of that cohesiveness and togetherness that it takes to be a good team,” Bloomquist said.

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