“Keep competing,” were the words from Ripon Christian coach John DeVisser that echoed from the dugout throughout his team’s 15-0 five-inning loss to Hughson in Trans Valley League play Wednesday afternoon.
The Knights (0-2 TVL, 6-5 overall) kept competing but had a hard time getting out Hughson batters, especially early on.
“When you’re a young team like we are, if you don’t pitch and play catch, it makes for a very long day,” DeVisser said. “It’s games like today where we need to remind these kids sometimes the scoreboard doesn’t matter, but each pitch represents an opportunity to get better.”
The top of the order went a combined 11 for 15 in the game for the Huskies (2-0, 9-2), scoring 12 of the their 15 runs. Number two hitter Andrew Fisher and cleanup hitter Beau Blake both went three for four in the game with three runs scored and three runs batted in each.
“I was really happy with our approaches at the plate today,” Hughson coach Charly Garza said. “We have hit a lot of home runs this year, but there are some negatives that can come with that swing-wise, so it’s nice to see strong at-bats that lead to line drives.”
The Knights’ bats were held in largely in check due to a great outing from Hughson starting pitcher Max Mankins, who allowed just three hits while striking out seven through four innings on the mound.
“Max’s pace was really good today,” Garza said. “Every 10 seconds, he’s up there firing, which got him into a really good rhythm. Even when he was missing tonight, he was close, and when you pitch that way, you’re going to get a lot of outs.”
Two of the three hits to come off of Mankins were off the bat of freshman Stadtler Postma, who led Ripon Christian offensively.
“Stadtler was able to find his pitches and put good swings on them today,” DeVisser said. “He’s barreling stuff for us right now and really has been all year long, setting the table for the rest of the lineup.”
DeVisser’s squad is a young one. Three of the four pitchers to take the mound for the Knights in the game were sophomores. Tyler Wadlow and Noah DeBruyn were bright spots in relief, allowing two runs combined in the final 2 2/3 innings after the Huskies put up 13 in the first three frames.
“I am extremely proud of the way those guys continued competing on the mound,” DeVisser said. “Both of them were pitching in their first ever varsity game, and to be able to work through some of those jitters and gets outs will be huge as they develop.”
The Knights will have to have short memories, as they travel to Hughson to take on the Huskies on Friday.
“We can and will compete in this league, but we have to play our game,” DeVisser said. “We’re not going to be out here slugging 10 to 12 runs with teams like Hughson. We need to pitch and catch, and take good at-bats. Keep it within a run late, and you never know what can happen.”
