By Ron Smith
February 22, 2025
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) There could be no more appropriate word to describe today's action on the baseball field than a twin-billing. Both ends of the doubleheader were eerily similar, with Westmont (11-2, 6-0 PacWest) rallying in the late innings to claim a pair of victories over the Silverswords of Chaminade (3-6, 2-4). The dual wins extended Westmont's winning streak to 10.
 
Westmont won the early game 3-1 and the nightcap 6-2. In both games, the Warriors were held hitless until the bottom of the fifth.
 
"It was two great pitching performances by both teams in both games," noted Westmont head coach Paul Svagdis. "Not a lot of walks, balls being put in play consistently and solid defense by both teams. It made for quick games."
 
The first game started at 11:02 a.m. and the last game finished at 3:26 p.m. That's four hours and 24 minutes to complete a doubleheader, including the half-hour break between games.
 
Westmont sent Bryan Peck to the mound to start the opener and Ryan Humphreys for the second.
 
"Bryan and Ryan both did a terrific job today," expressed Svagdis. "Of course, we needed them to keep us in the game like they did. We didn't really swing well, obviously, but the hitters did a good job battling back and coming up clutch at the end of both of those games.

"Bryan and Ryan are two senior, veteran pitchers who have pitched in a lot of big games for the Warriors over the years. I was not surprised to see them competing and putting zeros up, even though they were down a run or two."
 
Peck pitched seven innings, allowing one unearned run on seven hits. He struck out five and did not allow a walk. Caden Beloian, who was credited with the win, pitched the eighth inning without allowing a hit or a run. He struck out two and walked one. Zach Yates pitched a scoreless ninth and earned his second save of the season. Yates allowed one hit and struck out the other three batters he faced.
 
In the second game, Humphreys pitched six innings in the game that was scheduled for seven. He gave up two runs on five hits, struck out seven and did not issue a walk. Willis Lacey pitched the seventh, allowing two hits but no runs.
 
In game one, Chaminade's Anthony O'Canas, a left-hander, matched Peck's seven innings and pitched into the eighth. He allowed one run on four hits, struck out three and walked one. Joseph Perez was charged with the loss after giving up two runs in the bottom of the eighth on three hits.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Shane Hofstadler got things started for the Warriors with a single through the left side. He was replaced at first by Isaac Veal. Veal stole second and reached third when the attempt to gun him down sailed into center field.
 
"We have a couple of guys who get starts, and then are role players," pointed out Svagdis. "I didn't start Isaac Veal today. Instead I started Yzermans in the DH spot. I told Isaac he would be my runner coming off the bench. We brought him in in a crucial situation. I thought him stealing the bag was really impactful. He ripped second, they made a bad throw and he got third on it. That put a lot of pressure on them.
 
"I love having a group of guys that take their role seriously when their roles change. Sometimes he is going to be a starter, sometimes he will be a runner off the bench. He was prepared and ready for the moment. It is always nice as a coach to see a young man being willing to take a step back from being a starter but still being engaged in the process of trying to win for the team."
 
With Veal at third, Colin Callahan delivered a single through the left side to drive in Veal and tie the score at one run apiece. That turned over the line-up, bringinf up Daniel Patterson who sent a 392' shot down the left field line. The ball traveled just inside the foul pole for a two-run home run.
 
In game two, Chaminade sent another lefty to the mound in the person of Mac Zawistoski. Through five scoreless innings of work, the sophomore allowed just one hit.
 
"I am sure they are going to throw lefties at us again tomorrow," predicted Svagdis. "I don't think their plan was to throw the second lefty, but they saw how effective the first one was. I don't have a lot of answers to that, but I am going to work on that tonight, get in early tomorrow and help our hitters learn to hit lefties.
 
"That was the first start for Zawistoski. He was a reliever. I think their coach wisely thought, 'I'm going to throw another lefty against these guys. We got to him a little bit in the sixth, but he was probably elevating a little bit."
 
'Getting to him' started with Patterson who, with one away, delivered his second home run of the day. The solo shot left his bat at 109 mph and traveled 408 feet over the left-field fence. That pulled the Warriors to within a run at 2-1.
 
Next, Michael Soper hit a ball to left-center field that looked like the second out. However, the left fielder stumbled and the ball hit off his face, resulting in Soper reaching second. That brought up Bryce McFeely who reached down and lined an opposite-field home run to right, giving Westmont a 3-2 lead.
 
Westmont tacked on three more runs before the innings was over. After a double to right by Trey Dunn, Zawistoski was taken out of the game in favor of Brennen Panis. Jesse Di Maggio reached on a walk before Jack Bollengier doubled to right field, driving in Dunn and advancing Di Maggio to third. That made the score 4-2.
 
With Tanner Beltowski at bat, a wild pitch allowed Di Maggio to score and Bollengier to reach third. Beltowski then singled up the middle to make the score 6-2 when Bollengier scored.
 
"The second game was terrific and I was really proud of the guys battling," noted Svagdis. "We have a great class of senior hitters and they hung in there, put a couple of balls over the fence and got us back in the game.
 
"It was good to see Daniel Patterson have a couple of big hits and see Bryce McFeely take him the other way at the end of that game."
 
The two teams will finish the four-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled at 11:00 a.m.