Senior Jamie Barth turned in a tremendous performance on the mound while fellow senior Andy Dude scored the winning run as Westmont Baseball claimed a 3-2 victory in the second game of a twin-bill against the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific (21-27, 11-23) on Wednesday at Russ Carr Field. Dude and Barth, the Warriors' only seniors, were honored between games for their contributions to Westmont baseball. Wednesday marked the final home games of the 2007 campaign for head coach Scott Deck's squad.
"I think back (on my career at Westmont) with the fondest of memories," said Barth. "I played with so many great guys and had so many great experience and relationships with coaches and players."
"Even though we have had a lot of rough seasons," said Dude. "I have made a lot of great friends and great memories. I love our coaches."
In the first game, Westmont (6-37, 4-30) gave up 12 runs in the first three innings and went on to lose by a score of 14-0. Junior Erik Gaustad took the loss, having given up eleven runs, eight of which were earned in the two plus innings which he worked. Jon Sakoda pitched the final seven innings of game one, allowing only three runs on nine hits. He struck out two without allowing a walk.
Barth retired the first seven batters he faced in the second game, and gave up just three hits through six innings. In the seventh inning, Barth gave up a lead off single to Thomas Raymundo and then walked Justin Crisp to put two men on base. On an attempted sacrifice bunt by Justin Rhoades, Barth was able to deliver the ball to Erik Gaustad at third base, eliminating the lead runner for the first out of the inning.
That brought up Case Rigby, the Sunbirds' designated hitter. After Crisp stole third, Sunbirds' coach Oscar Hirschkorn replaced Rhoades with Mitch Mulligan at first base. Mulligan promptly stole second to put men on second and third with no one out. Rigby then scorched a line drive to the right side of the field. But Westmont second baseman Philip Valle made a dazzling dive to his left to snag the apparent RBI-bound blast and prevent either runner from scoring on the play.
"I was ecstatic (about Valle's play)," said Barth. "I wanted to go over a kiss the kid."
It looked like Westmont might escape without allowing a run and preserve its 3-0 lead, but Brett Howard knocked a two-RBI single into left field which chased Barth from the game. Kellen Skersies came on in relief and brought the inning to an end before further damage could be done.
Offensively, the Warriors posted two runs in the second inning and another in the fifth. Jason Younker led off the first inning with a single deep in the hole at short but was forced out at second on a ground ball by John Evans. Derek Fugitt, who was four for seven on the day, laid down a bunt that went for a base hit giving Westmont runners at first and second with one away. A double steal by the Warriors advanced each runner one base. Luke Montzingo then pushed Evans across the plate and moved Fugitt over to third with a ground ball to third. Fugitt then scored on a balk by Sunbird pitcher Jon Steele.
In the fifth inning, Dude single down the right field line with one away and then reached second when Anthony Martinez walked. After a pitching change, Cody Chapman also walked to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by Cody Chapman allowed Dude to score what proved to be the winning run.
"When I was at third and saw that fly ball, I knew I was tagging all the way," said Dude. "I thought it was going to be a close play so I slid out. I didn't know it was going to be a winning run, but it ended up that way."
After retiring three in a row in the eighth, Skersies gave up a lead off single to Crisp to start the top of the ninth inning. Crisp stole second base before Skersies coaxed Rhoades into grounding out to third base. A deep fly to center by Rigby provided the second out, but advanced Crisp to third base. Skersies was able to get Howard to fly out to center to pick up a save and secure the win for the Warriors. Barth was credit with the win and improved his record to 3-4.
"I just want to come out here in my last game, not take anything for granted and throw every pitch with all I had," said Barth. "I was putting the ball where I wanted most of the time and usually it turns out alright when you can do that."
Westmont will conclude the 2007 season this Saturday when they travel to Santa Clarita to play The Master's in a doubleheader. First pitch is at noon. The game previously scheduled for Tuesday at Cal State San Marcos has been canceled.
