First published in the April 7 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
The Maranatha High School varsity baseball team was defeated by visiting La Cañada, 4-3, in a nonleague game Monday night.
The Minutemen scored a run in the first inning and two more in the second before La Cañada rallied to tie the game, 3-3, in the top of the third.
Both teams’ bats were held silent the next two innings until an error allowed the deciding run to cross home plate in the top of the sixth.
“We just couldn’t get in a rhythm tonight; we just didn’t have a lot of offensive flow,” Maranatha head coach Matt Shupper said. “I thought at the end of the game we got better, but we have to be one of those teams that put pressure on [our opponents] each and every inning. Tonight, I feel like we let off the gas once we got that lead; we just have to play a full seven-inning game better.”
Freshman Zachary Strickland was handed a no-decision after allowing five hits, four hit batters, two walks and three runs (two earned) over 4.1 innings with eight strikeouts.
“He didn’t have his sharpest game but he’s a freshman and he is entitled to having learning and growing moments,” Shupper said. “He gave up three runs, it should have been one on very questionable calls, and I feel like Zachary’s got to be able to throw and depend on our offense to give him a little more support.”
Junior Bryan Richman reached on an error and scored on junior Cider Canon’s groundout to the first baseman. Richman continued to do his job as the leadoff hitter and reached base twice on walks, while Canon finished with a base hit in addition to his RBI in the first inning. Seniors Mikey Ebner and Nick Cook each collected a base hit and a run scored, while junior Dylan Zdunek registered a base hit.
Maranatha is scheduled to host Charter Oak of Covina in a nonleague game on Friday, April 8, at 6 p.m.
MARANATHA 11, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 0
The Minutemen notched their second straight shutout by defeating host Heritage Christian of Northridge in an Olympic League contest on Friday.
It was a bullpen game for Maranatha, which sent a new arm to the mound each inning. Combined, the staff only allowed one hit while striking out eight batters. Senior Jason Tricarico earned the win by striking out one batter in one inning. Junior Garret McGuigan and Strickland, who doubled and scored two runs at the plate, each worked one inning with two strikeouts. Seniors Justin Lee and Jack Stipa each logged one clean inning with one strikeout. Senior Ian Parris allowed the lone hit while striking out one batter.
Cook finished 2-for-3 with a double, a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Richman collected two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Senior Angelo Aleman, senior Daniel Latshaw, Canon and Hisey each recorded a base hit and a run scored, while junior Isaac Ton produced a base hit and an RBI. Ebner, junior Daniel Ruiz and Zdunek each had an RBI, seniors Petey Rodriguez, Nicholas Sartor and Will Allen each scored once, and senior Camden Andrews walked once.
Maranatha won its fourth straight league game while improving to a 6-1 record (11-5 overall). The Minutemen own a comfortable 2.5 game lead over second-place Valley Christian of Cerritos (3-2 league record), with the first of three matchups between the schools scheduled for Tuesday, April 12, at 6 p.m.
MARANATHA 13, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 0
MHS made quick work of Heritage Christian last Wednesday as freshman Jacob Yun allowed one hit over three shutout innings with six strikeouts. Senior Jeffrey Siglock pitched one inning and retired the side in order on strikes, while senior Jackson Podrebarac notched a strikeout in his inning of work.
Ebner finished 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and a pair of runs scored, while Cook went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs. Canon registered a triple, two runs scored and an RBI. Zdunek tallied a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Richman collected a base hit, two RBIs and a run scored. Sartor produced a double, two runs and an RBI, and Andrews recorded a base hit and two runs scored. Junior Judson Pitre registered a double, Hisey had a base hit, Aleman scored twice after reaching on a pair of walks, and Ton notched a pair of RBIs.
