By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor The Pasadena-area’s best baseball program this season has a big test starting today in San Luis Obispo before resuming their quest next week for an Olympic League title and a deep CIF run. The Minutemen are traveling 192 miles from campus and will play four games in the next three […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
The Pasadena-area’s best baseball program this season has a big test starting today in San Luis Obispo before resuming their quest next week for an Olympic League title and a deep CIF run.
The Minutemen are traveling 192 miles from campus and will play four games in the next three days, including a pair on Thursday.
None of the four teams have a better-than .500 record, but this will be all about the Minutemen getting their pitching staff and lineup set for the final month of the season in what could be a championship run.
Maranatha is 14-2 and is on an 11-game winning streak.
Their pitching staff has a combined 0.83 ERA, and have allowed just 45 hits and struck out 125 batters in 110 innings pitched.
The rotation consists mostly of Alex Cornwell, Trevor Marrs and Charles Acker, who are a combined 12-1 with a less than 1.00 ERA combined.
Dawson Netz has been lights out of the bullpen as well, and will likely start one of the four games.
Maranatha will face four teams from well out of the area, which obviously includes pitchers they haven’t ever seen, and can only get better from this road trip.
The Minutemen offense is hitting a collective .381, with 165 hits, 114 runs scored and 35 doubles.
Eddie Lopez (.512 batting average), Max Blessinger (.510), Kalani Chang (.457), Marco Martinez (.436), Casey Popham (.400), Trevor Marrs (.364), Dante Campione (.357) and Charles Acker (.340) have led the way.
Quotable:
Maranatha coach Matt Shupper: “This is our second year playing in the SLO tournament. Last year, we went 3-1 in tournament play, with our loss a one-run loss to Dos Pubelos High School. We beat SLO High School in the consolation game, 2-1. This year, we come in with a strong team, who has been here before. We would love to go in an win, but that is not our sole purpose of going out of town. We use this trip as a time to grow as a team, spend time off the field together, and forge relationships. In the end high school baseball is about building relationships with guys who you can depend on. Our hope is that this trip helps build on that.”
Maranatha Schedule/Expected Starting Pitchers at San Luis Obispo Tournament:
April 19: Trevor Marrs (4-0, 0.72 ERA) vs Enochs of Modesto at 5 p.m.
April 20: Alex Cornwell (4-0, 1.59 ERA) vs Morro Bay at Noon
April 20: Charles Acker (4-1, 1.58 ERA) vs Golden Valley of Merced at 6 p.m.
April 21: Dawson Netz (1-1, 0.36 ERA) vs St. Joseph of Santa Maria at 2:30
When the Minutemen come home, they will resume Olympic League play on Tuesday, April 25, when they host Heritage Christian at 6 p.m. at Brookside Park.
