Chaminade once again shuts out Sierra Canyon
Chaminade baseball has solidified its place as one of the top teams in the Mission League midway through league play, and the Eagles are having fun doing it.
“The chemistry and the closeness of this group has pushed them to a different level,” coach Kyle Wilkerson said. “It's been a long time since we've been (here), but they're believing in themselves. They know this is real.”
Chaminade is now on a sevengame win streak after beating Sierra Canyon 1-0 on Wednesday. The Eagles shut out the Trailblazers 4-0 on Tuesday and can complete a three-game series sweep with a win on Friday.
The Eagles (12-3 overall, 7-2 in Mission League) also beat Notre Dame in two out of three games and beat Loyola in back-to-back games as part of their win streak.
Wednesday's game was scoreless through five innings before Isaiah Hearn came up with a big hit in the top of the sixth.
Sierra Canyon (8-6-2, 3-4-2) had brought in Armando Solorio to relieve Ethan Montes and Hearn singled down the firstbase line on the first pitch he faced to drive in Carter Barnett, who also reached base with a single.
“Sometimes he's a little tentative early in the count,” Wilkerson said of Hearn, “and I'm glad he got aggressive because he's a dude.”
Efficient pitching kept Chaminade in the game for the opening five innings. Eli Stephens, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, allowed only four base hits in 4 2/3 innings of work while striking out four hitters. The defense as a whole went three-up, three-down in two innings.
Stephens is in his first year as a varsity starter for the Eagles and is thriving through his velocity and fearlessness. He owned a 0.66 ERA in his first 10 2/3 innings of the season.
“Our chemistry is amazing. I think that's the biggest thing we have,” Stephens said. “I just go up there and throw strikes. I know I have great defense behind me. They've shown that the whole year and I trust my defense.”
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Ethan Montes pitched for 5 1/3 innings for the Trailblazers, giving up two hits and one run while recording three strikeouts and two walks.
“He doesn't give up a lot of free passes,” coach Tom Meusborn said of Montes. “He makes guys swing the bat and we've got a big ballpark, so we want them to swing.”
Chaminade got its offense going in the fifth inning when Ryan Silver hit a single down the middle. Jackson Tyler was hit by a pitch to reach base and move Silver to second, then Silver stole third.
The senior center fielder is an aggressive baserunner whose speed comes in handy in the outfield as well.
“It works out because he's such a good athlete and he just finds a way,” Wilkerson said. “You can watch him at the plate, he's just an aggressive guy. He wants to make things happen.”
Chaminade could be tested against Harvard-Westlake (65), the top team in the Mission League next week with games on March 26-27.
“We have a lot of belief, which is awesome,” Wilkerson said. “They're just playing relaxed and loose. I think that's a benefit from just trusting. If I don't do well, my guy's got my back and we're gonna take care of it. If we need to throw a shutout, throw a shutout. That's where we're at right now and feeling good about it.”
Other Mission League baseball results from Wednesday: Harvard-Westlake 6, Crespi 5; St. Francis 5, Loyola 2; Notre Dame 7, Alemany 5.