Baseball Record Drops to 1-2
By Joe Gill
Staff Writer

The Pomona-Pitzer baseball team began its defense of the SCIAC title on a positive note last Friday, beating Whittier 10-2 in the home league opener. In Saturday's double-header, however, the Poets served up the Sagehen's first conference losses in over a year, sweeping them in the two game series 11-9 and 4-1. This dropped Pomona-Pitzer to 1-2 in SCIAC, with a 5-2 overall record for the season.

Pomona-Pitzer fans showed up in force to cheer on their defending SCIAC champions in their first league home game. Sagehen starting pitcher Adam Gardner '04 struck out all three Poets in the top of the third inning to keep the game scoreless. In the bottom of the third, the Sagehens finally made Whittier pitcher Colter Bollinger pay; with a runner on first, Jase Turner '05 hit a deep two run shot to center. On the very next pitch, Brad Carmody '03 followed with a back-to-back home-run blast to left-center, putting the Hens up 3-0.

In the top of the fourth, the Poets responded to the Sagehen's third inning explosion with a bases-loaded two-run single, cutting Pomona-Pitzer's lead to 3-2. Fortunately, this was the last time Whittier would score for the rest of the game. The Sagehens played solid baseball for the next two innings, allowing for the top of their lineup to step up to bat in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on first and third, Carmody would add to the lead with a ground-ball single up the middle, making the score 4-2.

Pomona-Pitzer reliever Jeff Lamb '04 replaced Gardner in the top of the seventh inning. The Poets couldn't keep up with Lamb's fastball, giving up the third out on a pop-up double play to right field. After the Sagehens quickly ended the seventh inning, Lamb continued his relief with a strikeout. When Lamb proceeded to walk the next batter, head coach Frank Pericolosi decided it was time to bring in closer Alex Smith '03. Following a Whittier sacrifice to advance their runner, Smith teased the batter to a full count before striking him out, allowing the Sagehens to bat once more.

The Sagehens would put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth inning. After Robert Ruiz '03 doubled, slugger Jose Cortez '03 smashed a two-run bomb to left-center. Pomona-Pitzer continued the late scoring with five singles in a row, followed by a sacrifice RBI, creating a total of six runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Whittier's last chance at the plate was short-lived. After striking out two batters, Smith forced a bases-loaded ground-out to the shortstop, ending the game and carding his first save of the year. Carmody, Turner, and Cortez each had three hits, two RBI's, and a home run on the afternoon. Gardner got the win for the Hens in a six-inning effort, giving up nine hits while striking out five. "Gardner pitched a good game and that big inning helped, we get that a lot," commented Pericolosi, "but we still managed to strand 12 runners on base."

Less than twenty-four hours later, the Sagehens traveled to Whittier to continue their winning ways. In the first of the two matchups, the Hens took an early lead. Highlighted by Tyler Burr's '05 two run double in the second and Cortez's three-run drive, the Sagehens led 6-1 in the fourth inning. Despite the offensive production, Pomona-Pitzer's defense could not maintain the cushion. Giving up two runs in the bottom of the fourth and another eight in the error-filled seventh, the Sagehens managed to close the gap to just two runs in the eighth inning. Unfortunately, Poet closer John Wells dominated in the ninth, closing the door on the Hens for the save.

In the second half of the doubleheader, Pomona-Pitzer had plenty of defense, but no offensive production. With only three hits in the first seven innings, the Hens struggled against Poet starter Randy Sobek. Down 3-0 in the eighth inning, the Sagehens closed the gap to just two runs when Burr scored on a wild pitch. After a failed rally in the ninth, however, Pomona-Pitzer ended the second game with no RBI's.

Despite the disappointing losses, the Sagehens still hope to contend for the SCIAC championship. "Our team has all the parts, we just have to put them together," reflected Smith.

Pomona-Pitzer will face a competitive SCIAC conference. "Whittier, La Verne, Redlands, Cal Lu; they all have good teams," said Pericolosi, "They have some weaknesses, but it's going to be a challenge." The challenge is augmented by the fact that the Hens have lost four starting all-league players to graduation. In addition, first team all-American shortstop Alan Flores '03 is out due to injury. Still, Pericolosi is optimistic. "We are capable of being a good team, we just need to put it together," he said. The Sagehens face La Verne at home today at 2:30.