The baseball team dominated the Sequoia Ravens 8-4 in the last regular season game on Saturday afternoon.
The Bears began with lockdown defense by freshman pitcher Jake Scott, forcing the first three batters to pop out to quickly switch M-A to offense. Freshman catcher Owen Coupe made hard contact with the ball, but was beaten by the throw to first base. Senior shortstop Ryder Kelly hit a groundout to the Ravens’ shortstop, and the inning ended scoreless for both teams after senior designated hitter MJ Ellazar was thrown out at first.
Sequoia was able to gain momentum after a base hit to start the inning. The Bears overthrew to first base, allowing both runners to advance. After the M-A’s defense regrouped, they were able to exit the half without allowing a run from the Ravens after a heroic catch by junior left fielder Merick Lee.
Scott began the half by crushing a double to deep right-center field, giving the Bears lots of energy. Freshman third baseman Oliver Coupe was called safe at first after beating the throw from the Ravens’ shortstop, putting runners on first and second base. Sophomore right fielder Luke Ten Vaanholt forced a fielder’s choice after Sequoia threw the runner out at third base. Senior first baseman Max Brubacher continued to fight, but eventually flew out to left field.
Lee further pushed the Bears’ momentum by loading the bases after drawing a walk. The Ravens attempted to pick off Ol. Coupe at third base, but lost the ball during the throw. He was able to score, putting M-A on the board at 1-0, and the inning ended after Ow. Coupe flew out.
“Getting out of the bases-loaded jam, that was really firing me up. And then we went into the next inning, and scored a couple runs,” Scott said.
Back on defense, Scott was quick to apply pressure, striking out the Ravens’ batter looking. However, they were able to hit back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and second base. Sequoia stole third base and then forced a pickle at second, scoring the runner from third, but the inning ended at 1-1 after the Bears forced the runner at second out.
M-A initially struggled at the plate, with Kelly and senior center fielder Masataka Shudo unable to get hits. Despite the drought, Ellazar blasted a double to right field to give the Bears a chance to score. Scott drew a walk to continue the streak, but it was cut short after a flyout from Ol. Coupe, ending the third inning tied 1-1.
Lee began the fourth inning with an incredible sprinting catch, preventing a major hit from the Ravens. Sequoia flew out to Ten Vaanholt, unable to match the Bears’ defense. Scott ended the half with a stupendous curveball, striking the batter out looking.
On offense, Ten Vaanholt was struck by a pitch in the wrist, granting him first base. Brubacher followed this up by obliterating a home run to left field, making the game 3-1. Lee was also able to record a hit after the Ravens’ first baseman dropped the ball. Unfortunately, he was ruled out after an attempt to steal second base. Kelly battled at the plate, eventually singling with a line drive down left field.
Shudo pounded a double on the left field line, scoring Kelly and putting the score at 4-1. The Ravens finally shut down the heat after Ellazar popped out to end the fourth inning.
Kelly started the fifth inning with an impressive throw to first base, getting the runner out by a hair. However, the next Raven was able to single by beating the throw from senior second baseman Joe Pagee*. Sequoia popped out to right field, putting two outs on the board. Even so, Scott began to struggle with consistency, allowing three walks and scoring a runner. Junior pitcher Jack Emery was eventually called in, walking another batter and making it 4-3. M-A escaped the half with a pop fly straight to Lee, but were clearly feeling the pressure from the Ravens.
After Scott flew out, Ol. Coupe pounded a ball for a single, but took third after Ten Vaanholt singled to follow him up. The bases were loaded after the Ravens intentionally walked Brubacher in fear of another home run. Ow. Coupe swiftly capitalized on the situation, hammering a ball to the wall, scoring numerous runners.
“It was a big moment for us, because it got us rolling,” Ten Vaanholt said.
The inning concluded with a runner being ruled out at home after a single by Kelly, as M-A held a 7-3 advantage.
The Bears carried the strength into the sixth inning, getting a quick three outs with a pop fly and double play by Kelly to return M-A back on offense almost immediately. Shudo managed to beat a throw to first base and made it to second after a single from Ellazar. Ol. Coupe also singled, loading the bases yet again for the Bears. Ten Vaanholt recorded an RBI, but was ruled out at first, putting the score at 8-3. The inning came to an end after a pop fly from Brubacher.
The Bears struggled slightly to close the game out, with multiple walks from Ten Vaanholt, who was called in to close the game. The Ravens singled and scored after another walk from Ten Vaanholt, making it 8-4. The game came to an end after the Bears forced a pop fly to Kelly, making the final score 8-4.
“I think our team’s overall performance today was electric. We had a rough first three innings, and then towards the end of the game, we all rallied together and were able to put up eight runs and win the game,” Ow. Coupe said.
The Bears will play their first round of CCS on Saturday.
*Joe Pagee is a journalist for the M-A Chronicle.
