On Wednesday, March 24, the Moorpark College Baseball team prepared to play the final game of a two-game series against the LA Valley Monarchs.
This game would ultimately decide a series split winning game or a two-game series sweep as they lost their first game to LA Valley on Tuesday, March 24, with a 6-2 final score.
Mario Porto, the baseball team’s head coach, spoke on what it’s like to bounce back from adversity after a five-game winning streak followed by a four-game losing streak.
“The things that hurt us the most are the little things, not running the bases well, not getting the bunt down, etcetera,” Porto said. “So now it’s just about getting back to those skills.”
During this losing streak, the Moorpark Raiders have committed many mistakes, and limiting those is crucial in earning a win. Coach Porto spoke about the problem of errors being involved in the game.
“When we practice, we try and make everything as game-like as possible to help put them in those situations, and most of the times we put a consequence on it like running to the foul pole so there is something to lose,” Porto said.
Moorpark did not start hot as freshman pitcher Sergio Ruiz quickly allowed a triple off the first batter he faced. That, however, wasn’t going to be the end for Ruiz as he walked his first batter of the day, allowing runners to be on both first and third base. LA Valley quickly caught steam as Jackson Frankovich singled, scoring the first runner of the game, giving the Monarchs a quick 1-0 lead.
After the first run was scored, Ruiz hit a batter, loading the bases. The Monarchs could have jumped on a big lead here if it hadn’t been for Yandel Guereque, who created an inning-ending triple play.
As the game continued, Sergio Ruiz caught his footing, not allowing another run until the fourth inning. There needed to be more to give the Raiders a chance to come back, as they wouldn’t tally a hit. In the fourth inning, Ruiz would have to be pulled out of the game, ending his day with three innings pitched and allowing four earned runs.
Even though the Raiders were behind for several innings, that did not stop Guereque from making multiple outstanding defensive plays, as he was able to end the inning three separate times.
The Raiders scored in the eighth inning off of an Anthony Deluca double that scored Yandel Guereque. However, this would be the Raiders’ only score of the game, as the game ended in a crushing 6-1 loss in favor of the Monarchs.
Losing is a big part of baseball, and how a team handles a loss can determine how the team plays moving forward. Coach Porto spoke about how he tells his team to get in the right headspace to not remember these games.
“We always tell them once they leave the field it’s [the game] over,” Porto spoke. “When you play, you win some and you lose some and we were on the short end today.”
Although Guereque made several outstanding defensive plays that kept the score close, the freshman infielder spoke about how the defense can always be improved.
“Just getting in more reps and trying to be the best I can and help out the team as much as possible,” Guereque said.
Although the Raiders ended the day in the loss column, catcher Mingyu Kim spoke about how meaningful the relationship between a catcher and pitcher is during games like these. Kim spoke about what he does to ensure a pristine relationship.
“I look at my catcher’s glove, adjust and trust the pitcher to throw right there,” Kim explained.
This game was a crushing defeat for the Raiders, who now have a five-game losing streak. As the final month of college baseball approaches, the Raiders will look to turn the season around when they host rival Oxnard College on Tuesday, April 2, at Raider Field.
For more information on the Moorpark Raider’s Baseball team, click here.
