It was opening day for a new baseball season for Burroughs High, and the Bears went on the road to face a formidable opponent in San Marino.
“That is a playoff team,” Burroughs coach Matt Magallon said of the Titans.
With strong pitching, and just enough offense, the Bears won their season opener 2-0 over the host Titans at McNamee Field in nonleague play on Feb. 16.
“I think that was a complete team win,” Magallon said. “It wasn’t the best executed game. It wasn’t the best defensive game by any means, but they did what they had to do and our pitching bailed us out, so it worked out.”
The matchup came as part of the Dave Moore Baseball Tournament, which will see both teams play more games as it continues.
It was the first loss of the season for San Marino, which had a 9-0 home win over Providence and a 5-4 road win over Campbell Hall before falling to Burroughs in the opening game of the tournament for the Titans.
“I always believe that losing games like this early helps,” San Marino coach John Franklin said. “If you go through the whole first half of the season with no adversity, all of a sudden adversity can hit and teams will fold, so now it is our chance to bounce back.”
Titan right-hander Tomás Bilvado went the distance on the mound for the hosts, yielding a scant three hits. The junior ace had seven strikeouts, including striking out the side in order in the fifth on just 10 pitches.
“He did not deserve to get a loss there,” Franklin said. “He missed one spot all day that I called.”
Bear sophomore Ryan Walsh, in his first varsity start, pitched five strong innings, striking out four to pick up the win.
“We’re just excited that he came out and did what we know he can do,” Magallon said.
Sophomore Jack Guest sat the Titans down in order in the last two innings, striking out two, to record the save.
The Bears scored their first run of the season in the fourth inning. Bilvado hit Nate Chapman with a pitch to lead off the frame, and Devin Whittekiend followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance Chapman into scoring position. Chris Perez followed with a single into right field, allowing Chapman to score. However, Titan freshman catcher Parker Wilson threw out Chapman trying to get to second base after the throw came home.
In the bottom of the inning, San Marino loaded the bases with no one out. Sid Danenhauer led off by legging out an infield single. Coleman Morning then hit into a potential double play, but was safe on a Bear infield throwing error. Ryan Park then hit his second bunt single of the contest to fill the bases. However, Walsh then struck out the next two Titans on full counts, one swinging and one looking, before inducing a pop out to escape the jam.
The hosts had another prime opportunity to score in the bottom of the fifth when Carson Herren led off with a single to left center. Chase Mena followed with a single to right field, but Herren was thrown out trying to reach third base. Walsh struck out the next batter, but the next Titan reached on error after Mena stole second. The next batter flew out to right field, stranding runners at second and third.
Burroughs tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Perez reached on an infield single with one out. Pinch runner Willan Armes advanced to third as Nick Fritz reached first on a Titan error. Armes then scored on a wild pitch, moving Fritz to third. Another wild pitch came soon after, but Wilson recovered the ball and threw to Bilvado covering the plate to tag out Armes trying to score.
“I thought Burroughs was a great team. Very-well coached,” Franklin said.
The Titans rebounded later in the Dave Moore Tournament with a 4-2 victory at Covina High on Feb. 17, with J.T. Lu-Morris getting the win. The victory improves San Marino to a 3-1 overall record.
First published in the Feb. 22 issue of the San Marino Tribune
