By Ron Smith
January 27, 2023
 
(ESCONDIDO, Calif.) Westmont Baseball kicked off the 2023 season by splitting a road doubleheader with the Firestorm of Saint Katherine. The Firestorm took the first game 14-7 before Westmont turned the tables with an 8-1 win. Both teams are 1-1 on the season.
 
In the opener, Saint Katherine struck first, scoring three times in the bottom of the first inning. After an RBI-single by Johnny Lopez, Michel Bennin delivered a two-run home run for the Firestorm.
 
The Warriors took the lead in the top of the third, posting five runs on four hits to go up by two. With one away Paul Mezurashi walked before Brady Renck singled to right. An error by the Firestorm's third baseman allowed Mezurashi to score and Renck to reach third. A single to center by Robbie Haw scored Renck and drew the Warriors within one (3-2).
 
After Ryan DeSaegher walked, moving Haw to second, Bryce McFeely doubled to right field, tying the game as Haw crossed the plate and moving DeSaegher to third. One out later, Parker O'Neil drove in both McFeely and DeSaegher with a single.
 
"To come back offensively and put up a five-spot after going down early was good, but we didn't further the pressure on the pitching side," noted Westmont's head coach Tyler LaTorre. "One of the things we try to accomplish on the mound is to eliminate free 90s. All of Saint Katherine's scoring innings started with a free pass – either hit by pitch, walk or catcher's interference. That is something we need to be sure we hone in on and make sure we accomplish our goals in the future."
 
The Firestorm put up two runs in the bottom half of the third, courtesy of a two-RBI double to right-center field by Trevor Castillo. Then in the bottom of the fifth, Saint Katherine added five more runs to take a 10-5 lead. Christos Tountas provided a two-run home run as part of the five-running inning.
 
"Defensively, we have some guys moving around and some new faces," noted LaTorre. "We are trying to give guys an opportunity to feel like they can play within themselves and not make the game bigger than they needed to. Even on the mound, I felt like they had to do more than themselves."
 
The Warriors took one run back in the top of the seventh when transfer catcher Shane Hofstadler produced a two-out solo home run.
 
"Shane is going to be hitting in the middle of the order and is a good bat for us," said LaTorre. "I'm proud that he got that first homer as a Warrior."
 
In the top of the eighth, Brady Renck scored after stealing second base. Haw reached safely on an error that also brought Renck home.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, however, the Firestorm added four more runs to account for the final score.
 
Christopher Ceballos (0-1) suffered the loss for the Warriors, giving up five runs on two hits. Starter Bryan Peck gave up five runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking two.
 
"As a coaching tool, we used that first game as a learning experience," explained LaTorre. "In between the two games, I told the guys we had an opportunity to show what we are made of and show how we respond to a little bit of adversity. I am super proud of how we responded to that first game."
 
Eric Oseguera started the game for the Warriors and by the time he took the mound he had a 1-0 lead.
 
With two outs in the first half of the opening frame, Haw reached on a walk. Then McFeely doubled to left field to drive in Haw.
 
The 1-0 score held up until the top of the fourth when Westmont scored six runs to go up 7-0. Liam Critchett, a junior transfer from Loyola Marymount, opened the inning with a double down the right field line. After Parker Zarbaugh walked, both men advanced on a wild pitch with Hofstadler at the plate. His single drove in Critchett and moved Zarbaugh to third.
 
David Martinez stepped in as a pinch hitter and was hit by the pitch, loading the bases for the Warriors. Renck drove in Hofstadler and Zarbaugh and moved Orion Medeiros, who had re-entered the game at first base, to third. Renck reached second on the play courtesy of a Firestorm error.
 
Haw then singled to left, driving in both Renck and Medeiros and picking up his third and fourth RBI of the day. Haw reached second on a wild pitch and then third on a ground out. He later scored on another wild pitch.
 
Westmont added one more run in the top of the sixth, a solo home run by McFeely – the first of his Westmont career. McFeely went three of seven on the day (as did Hofstadler) with two doubles and a home run.
 
Eric Oseguera was awarded the win after pitching five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. Oseguera struck out four and walked one.
 
"Osy has been here before," said LaTorre. "He has pitched in big games and has a lot of experience. He is the exact guy we want and need on the mound to get us off on the right foot. It helped that we scored in the first and then played good defense behind him. That allowed him to settle in. His aggressiveness on the mound of throwing strikes and getting weak contact allowed him to go five innings and allowed us to only use two pitchers in the second game. That solidifies the team for tomorrow with our bullpen ready to go."
 
Lucien Wechsberg, a sophomore transfer from Oxnard Community College, pitched the final two innings, allowing one run on two hits. He struck out three and walked one.
 
On opening day, Westmont produced 15 runs on 17 hits.
 
"We have some guys in the lineup with DeSaegher, Renck and Haw that have experience, but we have some guys that are just getting their feet wet as Warriors. I am proud to see how guys responded. Hopefully, that will continue tomorrow."
 
The series concludes with the Warriors and Firestorm meeting up tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m.