Monrovia Baseball Continues Perfect Start After Weekend Success

With victories on Friday and Saturday, the Wildcats advance to 4-0 for the season

Monrovia High’s baseball team began the season with a dominant doubleheader performance against Arroyo, one in which the Wildcats outscored their opponent by a collective score of 22-6. MHS continued to impress this past weekend, adding two more victories to their win total for the season.

Their first game was on Friday, in which the Wildcats traveled to El Monte, Calif. to face the Mountain View Vikings. It was a fast start for Monrovia that allowed them to escape with the dominant 20-0 victory. The Wildcats scored eight runs throughout the top of the first inning, and they mimicked that run total during the top of the third giving them an already decisive 16-0 lead. The game was brought to a close after the fifth inning, and the Wildcats added four more runs once the contest came to a close.

Junior Matthew Delgado led the game in runs batted in with four, along with going three for three at the plate. Coleman Mitchell, who is also a junior, continued his strong hitting streak as well. Following the contest, he was now a perfect seven for seven at the plate for the season, and he also added to his RBI count which reached five after the game. On the mound, it was another junior that impressed in Steven Escarcenga who pitched three innings. In the nine batters faced, Escarcenga struck out seven and failed to allow a single hit.

On Saturday the Wildcats played their second game in two days, this time against the Beverly Hills Normans. Once again on the road, the Wildcats acquired yet another victory. However, it was not a blowout such as the contest before.

Although Monrovia took an early 3-0 lead after the top of the second, the Normans responded with a run of their own. With the Wildcats only leading by two runs, the game transitioned into a pitching duel. Ultimately, it was Monrovia who was able to hold onto their lead. Adding one more run in the top of the fifth, the Wildcats’ pitching failed to allow another run to reach home, and MHS escaped with the 4-1 victory.

Junior Luke Chiovare went two for four at the plate, and he led the team with two RBIs. However, the story of the matchup was the arm of pitcher Henry Williams. Williams pitched the entirety of this game, allowing only one run in seven innings pitched and also acquiring seven strikeouts. He earned the victory, which was the first of his season, and he advanced his ERA to an impressive 0.78.

The Wildcats’ season will continue on Tuesday, Feb. 25 against Cathedral High School, who is also 4-0 to start the season. First pitch will be at 3:15 p.m.

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