The Mountain Lions took on the visiting Modesto Pirates on Feb. 20. This is the first and only time these two teams will face each other this season.
Pitcher Aiden Van Kimmenaede (De Anza No. 8) started the game for the Mountain Lions. Kimmenaede gave up seven runs in the first four innings of the game as walks and hit batters played a factor for the Modesto Pirates to get opportunities with runners on base.
Right fielder Evan McRae (De Anza No. 19), 20, business administration major, singled in the bottom of the fourth inning, breaking up pitcher Gavin Farinha’s (Modesto No. 22) perfect game.
First baseman Myles Potter (De Anza No. 26) grounded into a double play to end the bottom of the fourth inning.
Pitcher Taeho Kim (De Anza No. 25) came in to pitch for the top half of the fifth inning down 7-0. He struck out the side as he caught two Pirates batters looking at strike three.
Kim came back out for the top of the sixth inning but gave up 4 runs as the Pirates extended their lead to 11-0.
In the bottom half of the inning, shortstop Drew Paxton (De Anza No. 2) hit a two-out double for the Mountain Lions’ first chance with a runner in scoring position.
Second baseman Luca Calderone (De Anza No. 1) flew out to left field as the Mountain Lions were unable to score their first run of the game in the bottom half of the sixth inning.
Pitcher Evan Bihlman (De Anza No. 12) came in to pitch the rest of the game as he gave up 5 runs in the three innings he pitched.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kailan Chao (De Anza No. 10) came in to pinch hit and got on base with a ball hit to the Pirates’ second baseman as it went off his glove and into the outfield for a hit.
The Mountain Lions had the bases loaded in the inning but were only able to score one run from a sacrifice fly from pitcher Bihlman, scoring Chao from third base.
This was the only time the Mountain Lions scored in the game, as they lost to the Modesto Pirates 16-1.
Kimmenaede, Kim and Bihlman gave up ten walks and five hit by pitches. They also gave up fourteen hits.
“The pitching staff have been lights out for us all year and they’re going to have games like that,” said head coach Don Watkins. “It’s a hard game to pitch, it’s hard, that’s a good team (Modesto).”
“It’s a hard season, lot of ups and downs, but the ability to stay confident, trusting our abilities,” catcher Jordan Maske (De Anza No. 23), 19, communications major, said. “I think we’ll be alright.”
“I thought our pitchers did well,” Maske said. “Getting ahead in counts, just a little better execution. They (De Anza pitchers) pitched hard and they were just trying to make pitches and they (Modesto) just put good swings on the ball.”
The Mountain Lions offense had four hits but struck out twelve times, not something they are not used to.
Left fielder Logan Vieira (De Anza No. 24), 20, business major, said, “We’re going to take this loss, we’re going to flush it at 10 o’clock tonight, wake up tomorrow ready to win the week.”
