By Ron Smith
May 29, 2022
 
(LEWISTON, Idaho) The most successful season in Westmont Baseball history came to an end today on Harris Field in the eighth game of the NAIA World Series. Westmont fell to Webber International by a score of 2-0, concluding its season with a program best record of 45-13.
 
"It stings and hurts right now, but I have tried to stop and reflect and have a little perspective," said Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz. "The moment feels magnified as if it was an indicator of our year. As much as it hurts, this moment is actually about the months and years of work, blood and tears that went into getting us to the World Series."
 
After a bit of a shaky start, Westmont pitcher Brad Heacock recovered and produced a masterful performance. In the bottom of the first, Heacock loaded the bases with no outs before Webber International's Bryan Eusebio, batting in the number four spot, came to the plate.
 
"The ball hit the lip in front of the plate and bounced over our third baseman into left field," described Ruiz of Eusebio's two-RBI single. "There is not a whole lot we can do about that."
 
Heacock prevented further damage in the inning by striking out the next batter and getting the subsequent two would-be hitters to pop up in the infield.
 
Next, Heacock worked himself out of a jam in the second inning. After retiring the first batter on a ground out to first, he surrendered a single to Josh Blackmore and a walk to Drake Dobyanski. Heacock then retired Kenny Rodriguez on a fly out to center field and got Tyren Milliner to ground out to second to end the inning. Those two outs were the first of 14 men retired in a row by Heacock.
 
"Heacock was outstanding," praised Ruiz. "It was a testament of his fortitude and his character to be able to respond. He got better as the game went on. He kept us in the game and gave us every chance to win it. We just couldn't get a run across. It was a fantastic performance."
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Angel Diaz was hit by a pitch. However, Heacock retired the next three batters to take the Warriors into the eighth inning, still trailing 2-0. With his work completed for the day, Heacock left the mound having allowed just two runs on four hits in seven innings of work. He struck out four and walked two.
 
"We had a true freshman and a true sophomore give us two high quality starts in the World Series in the first time we have ever been here," noted Ruiz of Bryan Peck and Heacock respectively. "I would say the future is bright."
 
Carlos Moreno was called upon to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning and struck out all three batters that he faced on 15 pitches.
 
"Carlos did in this game what he has done all year," noted Ruiz. "We want the ball in his hand and you saw why tonight."
 
Offensively, the Warriors produced six hits, but couldn't put enough together to result in runs scored. Westmont's best chance offensively came in the eighth inning. Thomas Rudinsky led off and reached on an error by the Webber International first baseman. Josh Rego then doubled into the right-center field gap, giving Westmont men on second and third with no outs. However, the next three Warriors were unable to put the ball in play and fell as strikeout victims to Dawson Young who was on in relief.
 
The Warriors had another chance when Robbie Haw singled in the ninth with one away. Once again, however, Young struck out the remaining Warriors that he faced, ending the game.
 
The team remained on the field for quite some time after the final out, hearing from their coach and embracing one another as they acknowledged their journey had come to an end.
 
"I don't know that I have ever felt more proud of a team for consistently overcoming the things they have overcome, handling the adversity they have handled, and finding a way to push us one step closer every day to the next goal," said Ruiz. "We lost two of our arms in January. Most teams would get deflated and fall apart in those moments. We just had guys step up and get better.
 
"Around every turn, no matter what was thrown at us, I thought we handled everything with class and competed the right way. I feel very proud of this team and feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach this group of guys."