The De Anza College baseball team took on the visiting 16-5 Skyline College Trojans, winning 3-1 and moving to a 4-16 overall record on March 10.
De Anza’s starting pitcher Mateo Escobedo (De Anza No. 6), 18, business administration major, struck out four Trojans in 7.2 innings.
“He’s been working up to this point,” head coach Don Watkins said. “He’s been pitching really well.”
The Mountain Lions took an early lead and never looked back, scoring their first run in the first inning.
Catcher Owen Wang (De Anza No. 14) singled to center field as center fielder Brayden Smith (Skyline No. 17) bobbled the ball leading to left fielder Brandon Kim (De Anza No. 29) to score.
The following inning, shortstop Drew Paxton (De Anza No. 4) 20, business administration singled to left field, scoring third baseman Brogan Enos (De Anza No. 5).
Paxton would then be brought in to score from Kim’s RBI single to left field making it 3-0 De Anza.
Escobedo’s only run given up was in the third inning from Smith’s sacrifice fly to right field.
Although Escobedo shined in the game, he credits his teammates’ defense and offense for helping him get through the game.
“Just having the team behind me with great defense (helped),” Escobedo said. “The three-run lead definitely gave me more confidence.”
Escobedo couldn’t get through eight innings, finding himself in trouble and loading the bases with two outs.
Watkins brought in relief pitcher Tommy Castro (De Anza No. 20) 19, business major to get the final out which he did in two pitches getting a groundout and firing up the team in the dugout.
“I was told if he (Escobedo) got in any trouble there I was going in,” Castro said. “I had to be ready for anything, bases loaded. I mean, I executed my pitches and got the out that was needed.”
Watkins said he knew Castro was the guy for the job.
“Tommy was the guy, I didn’t have any doubt,” Watkins said.
Relief pitcher Chris Smith II (De Anza No. 12) earned his first save of the season, closing out the game.
De Anza would go on to lose the rest of the series to Skyline, 6-2 on Thursday, March 12 and 8-3 on Saturday, March 14.
The Mountain Lions play the Diablo Valley College Vikings at home on Monday, March 16 before starting another three-game series, this time against the College of San Mateo Bulldogs.
The team has one last chance at revenge just over a week before playoffs begin, with a rematch in San Bruno scheduled for April 14.
