By Ron Smith
May 30, 2023
 
(LEWISTON, Idaho) Westmont Baseball (46-8), is the lone remaining unbeaten team in the NAIA Avista World Series after defeating William Carey (Miss.) (49-10) by a score of 7-3 on Tuesday. The Crusaders, seeded fourth in the tournament, were the only other undefeated team.
 
The win by Westmont is the 12th in a row and gives the Warriors a 9-0 postseason record through the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament, the Opening Round Tournament and now the World Series. It also established a new program record for single-season wins at 46.
 
"It has been a group effort - a team effort," said Westmont's head coach Tyler LaTorre. "Even those who are back home and didn't make the postseason roster are a part of this run that we are on."
 
Eric Oseguera started the game on the mound for the Warriors. Though he did not figure in the decision, Oseguera ate up five and two-third innings and left the game with the score tied at three. Oseguera gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits. He struck out six and walked two.
 
"What Eric Oseguera did today…," said LaTorre without finishing the sentence. "He didn't waiver. He trusted in us and he trusted in his team. For him to go out there and do what he did as our most experienced, I am super proud of him."
 
"I really trust our guys," said Oseguera. "All year we have put together good at bats. Even if we go down, I have total faith in our offense to put together two runs, four runs, whatever you need. It felt like I had good stuff today. I stuck to my same approach and didn't really try to do too much. I've done this before, I just had to keep doing it."
 
Zach Yates took over for Oseguera in the top of the sixth with two outs and a man on first and got the Warriors out of the inning unscathed. He pitched through the seventh and into the eighth without surrendering a run in an inning and two-thirds worth of work. He allowed two hits, struck out two and walked two.
 
With men on first and second and one away in the bottom of the eighth, Gabe Arteaga was called in from the pen. Arteaga struck out both men he faced in the bottom of the eighth, ending the threat. In the ninth, Arteaga struck out two more before coaxing the last batter to fly out to center field to end the game and collect his ninth save of the year.
 
"Osy had some adversity in the second inning with the booted ball, but that's baseball," observed senior second baseman Brady Renck. "He bounced back and gave us three really good innings after that. Yates came in and closed the door and Gabe – it was the first time we'd seen him all tournament – looked like the best version of himself."
 
After going down 3-0 in the top of the second, the Warriors reduced the deficit to just one run in the bottom of the second. A lead-off double by Bryce McFeely down the right-field line was followed by a single to left by Parker O'Neil.
 
With runners on the corners, Finn Snyder singled to left to record the Warriors first RBI when McFeely scored. Daniel Patterson flew out to center field but a Crusader fielding error allowed O'Neil to reach third and Snyder to take second. A sacrifice fly by Shane Hofstadler brought home O'Neil to make the score 3-2.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Westmont tied the game when Robbie Haw singled through the right side to drive in Patterson from second base. Patterson had reached on a single to right and advanced to second on an infield single by Michael Soper.
 
It would not be until the bottom of the seventh, following the singing of, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, that the 3-3 tie would be broken.
 
With one away, Renck drove a double down the right field line. Then, Ryan DeSaegher produced a double to right center, plating Renck and giving the Warriors a 4-3 lead. Paul Mezurashi came in to run for DeSaegher, and reached third on a wild pitch. Mezurashi scored on a single up the middle by Patterson.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, the Warriors added two insurance runs, taking a 7-3 lead. Soper led off with a single up the middle. An errant pick-off attempt allowed Soper to pick himself off the ground from diving back to first and race all the way to third base uncontested. One out later, Renck was intentionally walked and then stole second.
 
McFeely received a walk as did O'Neil, loading the bases. A third walk was issued to Snyder, allowing Renck to trot home.
 
"On offense, we are relentless," offered LaTorre. "It's not the same guy every day. That is a testament to our guys trusting in each other. We believe that no matter who is in the game pitching, or who is on defense or who is in the batter's box that he is going to get the job done.
 
"We wear other pitchers down by putting the ball in play. It is leaving the situation better for the guy behind you. There are a lot of team at bats in there. It's not guys looking to drive the baseball or do damage, it's guys that are staying within themselves and doing what is best for the team. That is truly what this team is about. It's special."
 
"We continue to believe in ourselves," said Renck. "Something we have done all year is come from behind. It is something we are good at. In the second inning, we knew we had plenty of at bats left and we knew we would string a couple of at bats together and get on the board."
 
After Tuesday's action, only four remain from the original 10 teams: top-ranked Southeastern (Fla.), ninth-ranked Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), William Carey and Westmont. All but Westmont have one loss – Lewis-Clark State at the hands of Southeastern, Southeastern at the hands of William Carey and William Carey at the hands of Westmont.
 
At this point in the tournament, there is a resetting of games, the purpose of which is to avoid the same two teams meeting for a second time. Since Southeastern has played both William Carey and Lewis-Clark State and William Carey and Lewis-Clark State have not played each other, Wednesday's games will feature an elimination game between William Carey and Lewis-Clark State at 3:05 p.m., followed by Westmont's game with Southeastern at 6:35 p.m.
 
After Wednesday's game, there will be two or three teams remaining. If Westmont defeats Southeastern on Wednesday, the Fire will be eliminated and Westmont will play the Lewis-Clark State versus William Carey winner in a championship game on Thursday. In that scenario, Westmont would need to win one of two games to claim the title – the second potential game being on Friday – while the Warriors' opponent would need to win both.
 
If Westmont should lose to Southeastern, then three teams would remain, all with one loss. Those three would be Westmont, Southeastern and the winner between Lewis-Clark State and William Carey. If Westmont were to lose its game on Wednesday and William Carey were to win its Wednesday game, then William Carey would play Southeastern in an elimination game on Thursday with the winner playing Westmont on Friday in a single winner-take-all game.
 
If, however, Westmont loses on Wednesday and Lewis-Clark state wins, then Westmont and Southeastern would play again on Thursday, this time in an elimination game. The winner would then play Lewis-Clark State on Friday in the winner-take-all game.
 
The reason that Lewis-Clark State would advance to Friday's championship game over Westmont and Southeastern is that Lewis-Clark State has played one more game than the other two. The rules deciding who plays on Thursday gives priority to the team that did not have a bye at the start of the series, thus equaling out the number of games played.
 
"We have to stay focused on us and what got us here," said LaTorre regarding the rest of the tournament. "That is a complete team. A team that plays for the name on the front of the shirt and not on the back of the shirt."
 
"We are in the driver position now," said Renck. "It's something we have to keep pushing for and not be satisfied. We have a game tomorrow and if we win that we are in the championship. There are still games in front of us. We still have to take care of business, so we are not done yet."
 
While the team certainly has more games to play," one Warrior – Oseguera – believes he has now completed his college career.
 
"This program is everything to me," said the senior right-hander. "I have poured everything I have into this program. I have had countless injuries, but the main thing is that I never gave up. The one thing I want to do is show the younger guys that as long as you don't give up, you will always be in the fight."