THOUSAND OAKS, CA- The Arroyo Seco Saints (17-15) saw what looked to be a classic pitching duel unravel early after some defensive miscues as they lost 6-3 to the Conejo Oaks (23-9) Wednesday night.  

The game couldn’t have started much slower for the Saints offensively in the top of the first, as Oaks starter Ryan Humphries (Westmont) threw an immaculate inning, absolutely stymying the Saints’ top three hitters.  

Fortunately, Saints starter Trajan Lee (Trinity) also got three straight outs to give the Saints offense another shot at cracking Humphries.  

That wouldn’t happen in the second inning, as the Saints went down scoreless again. Lee wasn’t fazed, however, as he set the Oaks down in order with two strikeouts to make it two straight innings without a baserunner for either team to open the game.  

The Saints couldn’t get a baserunner in the third inning either, however, and after one time through the order, everyone on the Saints was 0-1. Lee was again faced with the task of matching perfection in the bottom of the third.  

Luckily, with some help from his rangy outfielders, Lee did just that, setting three more Oaks down to make it a flawless three innings for both starters. From there on out, all eyes were focused on who would crack first.  

The Saints ended up getting the first baserunner, as Easton Elliot (Long Beach) singled in the top of the fourth. But, it ultimately didn’t matter as Elliot was picked off and Humphries was still facing the minimum through four innings.  

The Oaks also got their first baserunner in the bottom of the fourth via a hit-by-pitch, but Lee worked around it to allow no further damage.  

The Saints finally rewarded Lee’s masterful performance through four innings with some offensive fireworks in the top of the fifth. Unsurprisingly, it was “The Gauntlet” that finally got to Humphries. Joey Donnelly (UC Berkeley), sometimes also known as “Joey Doubles,” got things going with a double and Josh Livingston (Wichita State) singled to plate the Saints’ first run.  

The Saints’ defense turned sour in the bottom of the fifth. After a controversial hit-by-pitch to open the inning, a fielding error put runners on second and third with nobody out for the Oaks. After that, the Oaks used more small balls to get those runs across before finally capping the big rally off with a two-run single. After the dust settled, the Oaks pushed five runs across the board on only two hits and knocked Lee out of the game.  

The Saints couldn’t immediately respond to the demoralizing rally, and the score stayed 5-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth.  

Fortunately, Brady Nelson (St. Cloud) came into the game and pitched a clean sixth for the Saints.  

Livingston picked up his second RBI of the game in the top of the seventh with a fielder’s choice RBI, trying to will the Saints offense to stay in the game. The Saints couldn’t add any further runs in the inning but at a 5-2 score, the game felt within reach.  

Then, the always timely Oaks offense got that run right back in the bottom of the seventh to push the deficit back to 4 runs, 6-2.  

The Saints wouldn’t go down without a fight. Easton Elliot (Long Beach) knocked in a run with an RBI single, and after an Alex Birge (UC Berkeley) single, the Saints had the bases loaded with only one out. But all three runners were stranded and the score stood at 6-3 heading into the home half of the eighth.  

Nelson pitched another solid inning in the bottom of the eighth, but the Saints couldn’t get anything going in the top of the ninth and they walked away with a 6-3 defeat, their third loss in Thousand Oaks in three trips.  

The Saints will be back in action Friday night against the MLB Academy Barons for their home finale at 6:05 PM at Jackie Robinson Field. Ahmad Harajli (Miami Ohio) will make his first start for the Saints this season.  

Contributors:

• Saints reporter Ethan Inman (Southern California)
• Saints reporter Noah Pineda (UT Austin)
• Saints photographer Armando Jacobo (Long Beach)