Kyle Pinheiro | Arroyo Seco Baseball Insider

In the best batting performance of the year, the Arroyo Seco Saints went on the road to defeat the MLB Academy Barons. The Saints, who have spent the last two games trying to find consistency with their bats, pieced it together an offensive surge at the right time Sunday. The Saints produced eleven hits, with clutch performances by Spencer Mossburg, Greg White, Bryce Burton and Brendan Krob.

After a leadoff double in the top of the first inning, Bryan White was brought home by a Spencer Mossburg double to deep center. Bryce Burton getting on for a single at the next at bat, to be picked off at first, next came a pass ball to bring home Mossburg for an early Saint 2-0 lead.

Kyle Merkel was on the mound for the Saints, first inning went fairly smooth for the 6’3 California native, with some help from behind the plate when C Brendan Krob (University of Evansville) who threw out the runner at second in his first start at catcher this season. Having the lead by 2 heading into the bottom of the second, Barons’ Hunter Allen delivered a two-run shot to tie the ball game. Merkel Pitched another inning until he was relieved by Shamon Moss (Georgetown College).

Moss pitched two innings but faced a tough spot when Barons 1B Jason Wallace led off the inning with a double, which turned into a Trevor Edior two run RBI down the third base line. The Score remained 4-2 until the top of the eighth.

Blake Burton (Washington) gets on first to begin the eighth inning, followed by a Josh Magee (Faulkner) single leaving two players on for the Saints. Dustin Krob(Dayton) hit a single to bring a run home for the Saints. Mitch Kerner with a fielder’s choice forced Magee to get called out at second, bringing runners to the corners. Greg White (North Carolina AT&T University) brought the tying run home as well as advancing the go-ahead run to third base—runner would later score on a pass ball to give the Saints a 5-4 lead.

Head Coach Anthony Chevrier commented on the baserunning after the game saying that it one of the notable improvements from last game ‘the consistency with our offense, last game we were giving many soft outs and we were able to control the baserunning. Today, we put up 8 runs, but could have been closer to 11 or 12 with the way of our bats’
Pitcher Josh Walker (Butler) finished out the game for the Saints, he came in to pitch in the bottom of the eighth to secure the lead, a deep ball that was hit to left field was caught by a diving Spencer Mossburg which saved a two-run turnaround.

The Saints were fierce in the ninth and didn’t let off the gas, two runners on early created a double steal opportunity leading up to a SAC bunt by Derek Gibree (St. Leo’s University) that brought in a run. One more run would be added to bring the score to 8-4.

Coach Chevrier was very optimistic at the end of the game, being asked what it would take to carry this momentum to the next game he answered with ‘You are just as good as your next day’s starter, but winning 2 out of 3 phases is what we try to do and this gives your team the opportunity to get the last out and add a W to the scoreboard’ ‘We will find the recipe to the get the right guys out there and put them in a position to be successful’

The Arroyo Seco Saints resume play at Brookside Park on Tuesday, June 14 against the Ventura Halos.