Arcadia Baseball Capitalizes on Mistakes; Shuts Out Pasadena 4-0

Arcadia infielder Mike Saenz heads back to first base during his team’s 4-0 win over the Pasadena High School Bulldogs on May 5. – Photo by Vincent Nguyen

By Vincent Nguyen

AJ Jimenez (#17) threw a complete game as the Arcadia High School Apaches baseball team shutout the Pasadena High School Bulldogs 4-0.

The Arcadia pitcher also struck out six, and only allowed three hits behind five errors for the evening, frustrating the Pasadena batters through seven innings of play. Pasadena had as many errors, but was unable to capitalize on any of their opponent’s mistakes. The Apaches had nearly triple the amount of hits as the Bulldogs, registering 10 for the evening.

“We’ve been swinging the bats well, it’s just a matter of getting the big hits with runners on base,” Arcadia baseball head coach Nick Lemas said about his side’s offensive performance. “There were a couple of opportunities for us to break the game open and we didn’t and they were in the game the whole time, but you just keep plugging away.”

Jimenez’s counterpart Niko Lopez (#20) started at the mound for the Bulldogs, and only pitched 4.2 innings. Nevertheless, Lopez kept up with Jimenez throughout the first two innings and allowing one hit each. It wasn’t until the third inning that the Bulldogs’ focus fell apart, committing errors left and right that lead to three runs scored by the Apaches.

“That was the ballgame,” Pasadena baseball head coach Michael Parisi said. “We had some crucial drop balls that cost the third and fourth run.”

Arcadia’s outfielder Fernando Rosales (#24) opened the game after earning a single RBI and scoring first baseman Ryan Federico off of Pasadena’s first error of the inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, the Apaches capitalized on Jimenez’s infield hit, when Lopez tried to catch and throw the ball to third. Pasadena third baseman Frankie Garriola (#2) missed the catch, which prompted Rosales to steal home. Pasadena outfielder Luke Bolger (#6) dropped another flyball that brought another Arcadia runner home, giving the Apaches a 3-0 lead going into the fourth inning.

“They kick some balls that should’ve been made, but you just try to have quality at bat after quality at bat,” Lema said on capitalizing Pasadena’s errors. “We were just trying to stick to our plan.”

Lopez was switched out for Trent Richardson (22) for the final third of the fourth after the starting pitcher was unable to close out the inning.

“Lopez is a proven pitcher in the league, and it’s not easy to bat on him,” Lemas said about Pasadena’s pitcher. “Getting a little bit of an extra help with some errors is obviously really good for us.”

Another error in the same inning helped Arcadia’s John Woo (#28) earn a single RBI after scoring utility player Loren Iwasaki (#1). The Apaches took care of the final three innings quickly, and completed the shutout with ease.

“We had some crucial drop balls that cost the third and fourth run, that was the ball game,” Parisi said on his side’s performance for the evening. “AJ did a heck of a job, threw a shutout three-hitter, and did a great job keeping us off balance. It’s a pretty impressive throwing a shutout when their team has five errors behind them in a must-win game, so hats off to him.”

Pasadena, Arcadia, and Burbank are all tied for third in the Pacific League after this evening’s game. In order for Pasadena or Arcadia to clinch any playoff hopes, they would have to win their final three games, and hope the other team stumbles in the process.

“Now it’s a three-way tie for third place with three games remaining, so that’s where we’re at right now,” Parisi said about the league standings. “[Arcadia] came through today.”

Pasadena’s Jesse Zarazua prepares to hit the ball during his team’s 4-0 defeat against the Arcadia High School Apaches on May 5. – Photo by Vincent Nguyen

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