By Ron Smith
May 2, 2022
 
(IRVINE, Calif.) Westmont freshman Bryan Peck (6-3) took a no-hitter into the ninth inning in the opening game of the Golden State Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament at the Orange County Great Park. The right-hander used 111 pitches in his complete-game outing as the Warriors' (41-9) posted a 2-1 victory over the fifth-seeded Mustangs of The Master's (29-23).
 
"That is one of the best postseason outings I've seen on the mound for us in my 13 years," said Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz. "I think I most appreciated his demeanor on the mound. He managed situations well, he made pitches consistently and he was even from start to finish.
 
"It was a gutsy outing and a phenomenal performance. He has pitched well all year, but I think, today, you saw a little bit more of what he is made of. I am super proud of him."
 
"Honestly, I couldn't have felt better," said Peck of his performance on the mound. "I attacked the zone, did what I could and battled. All you had to do was throw it over the plate and let them get themselves out."
 
Peck allowed just three base runners in the first eight innings, two the result of fielding errors and one by virtue of a walk to Will Batz.
 
It was Batz that broke up the no-hit bid with a lead-off double over the first base bag in the top of the ninth. Peck then coaxed Austin Young into grounding out to third, leaving Batz on second. When Evan Banks grounded out to second, Batz moved to third.
 
Miles Henderson stepped to the plate and singled up the middle, driving in Batz for the Mustangs' only run of the game. That brought up Cason Brownell who grounded out to second to end the game.
 
Offensively, Westmont took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Mustangs' pitcher Zachary Filos had set down the first seven Warriors he faced before center fielder Paul Mezurashi singled to left field with one away.
 
"Filos was fantastic today," noted Ruiz. "He has thrown a bunch of complete games this year and he is a tough pitcher on the mound. He did a great job. We didn't have an extra base hit today. To face a guy that gives an outing like that to his team and be able to come out on top in a close game is fantastic. I am really proud of the ways our guys did their job today."
 
Ryan Desaegher followed Mezurashi's base knock with a single to center, moving Mezurashi to second. One out later, Brady Renck singled to right, driving in Mezurashi.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Warriors added a critical insurance run that proved to be the difference in the game. Justin Rodriguez led off the inning with a single to center, then reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Mezurashi. When Desaegher produced another single to center, Rodriguez advanced to third. Robbie Haw drove in Rodriguez with a sacrifice fly to center.
 
Westmont, the second seed, advances to play again tomorrow against the winner of today's game between third-seeded Vanguard (42-11) and fourth-seeded Arizona Christian (31-24). Before that, players will devote themselves to academic responsibilities.
 
"We are in the middle of finals, which is also the challenge of this tournament," said Ruiz. "Every team doesn't line up that way, but we do. Our guys are going to take finals this afternoon. The nice thing about the six o'clock game tomorrow is that they will be able to knock out their finals in the morning, get a break, let their minds reset and be able to go play baseball."
 
The win today was not the only bit of good news the Warriors received today. The NAIA released the locations of the 10 Opening Round Tournaments and Westmont was selected for the third season in a row to serve as hosts. That tournament will be held May 16-19 at Russ Carr Field. The other teams participating in the tournament will not be released until May 12.
 
"We set a goal a long time ago to be in the national tournament every year," said Ruiz. "The fact that we have done enough to earn the opportunity to host is pretty special. It means a lot to me as a coach.
 
"You have to be one of the 10 teams in the country that the selection committee thinks is good enough to be there. I am proud of the work our guys have put in so that this can be a reality for us. Four out of the last six year we have hosted and that speaks volumes to the work our guys are putting in to keep us relevant on a national scale."