Baseball is Back

    League baseball is back. On March 1, 2019, Estancia Eagles took on first year rival Orange Panthers at home in the first game of league baseball. Estancia came in at 3-3, and Orange came in at 2-1. Estancia won the game 4-0 through 6 ½ innings.
    Junior Jake Covey for Estancia made the start against junior Johnny Long of Orange. Both pitchers pitched complete games. With the first batter of league, Jake Covey struck out senior Justin Nock to begin the new season. In the first inning, Jake Covey struck out the first and third batter and the second out was a flyout to right fielder Josh Caldelas.
    With Estancia up to bat, first up is senior Hayden Pearce, who ultimately struck out. Next up, Nick Perales hit a single to begin the upcoming scoring circuit for Estancia. By the end of the first, the Estancia had four runs (one of which was an error committed by Orange junior shortstop Ralph Casillas). 
    After the first inning, it was a pitcher’s game. Throughout the final 5 ½ innings, there were only a combined five hits by both teams ( 3 for Orange, 2 for Estancia). 11 out of the 27 outs in the game, roughly 41%, were strikeouts, 5 of which were looking. A majority of the other 16 outs either found their way to either third baseman Matthew Kehoe, shortstop Jake Alai, right fielder Josh Caldelas, or left fielder Troy Huber. 
    For Orange, the defensive story is pretty similar, except there were fewer strikeouts (7) committed by Estancia. Similarly, a majority of the outs by Estancia found their way to third baseman Bryan Zaragoza, shortstop Ralph Casillas, or right fielder Elijah Wilson. 
    Since Estancia was winning by the end of the top of the seventh, Estancia did not have to bat in the bottom of the inning, completing game. Jake Covey finished the game with 11 strikeouts, 3 hits, 2 walks, and 0 runs. Johnny Long of Orange finished the game with 7 strikeouts, 5 hits, 1 walk, and 4 runs.
    This week, Estancia will play at home against league rival Calvary Chapel on Monday, March 4, 2019. Orange will play at home against non-league opponent Cerritos also on Monday, March 4, 2019.

Reporter: Myles Witte