The very first thing you discover about left-hander Boston Bateman is his measurement. He’s 6 ft 8 with numerous hair protruding from the again of his Camarillo Excessive hat.
There’s excessive expectations at any time when he pitches as a result of he not often offers up hits. 4 instances this baseball season, he has mixed on no-hitters whereas giving up six hits in 48 innings with 102 strikeouts.
So there he was Thursday afternoon with the wind blowing in and never a cloud within the sky, pitching in a gap sport of the Southern Part Division 4 playoffs in opposition to visiting Dos Pueblos, which joked about turning up the pitching machine to 92 mph in follow.
“Not laborious sufficient,” a participant stated earlier than the sport.
Boston Bateman will get fired up. After two walks and hit batter masses bases, he will get strikeout. B4, Camarillo 2, Dos Pueblos 0. pic.twitter.com/IoLkQfCdkm
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) Could 2, 2024
It turned out that participant is aware of what he’s speaking about. Bateman, who dedicated to LSU however is anticipated to be a excessive draft decide, gave up two hits in 5 1/3 innings, placing out eight, strolling three and hitting a batter in Camarillo’s 9-0 victory. He got here via with a strikeout within the fourth with the bases loaded, exhibiting emotion and attempting to fireside up his teammates. That led to a five-run inning within the backside of the fourth.
Though he had some command points early within the season (he has 33 walks in 53 1/3 innings), Bateman clearly has made progress, placing him in place to be a draft candidate for the primary or second spherical this summer time. And pitching in Division 4, there’s going to be an opponent who will get fortunate to beat him. He has 4 pitches, however his mid-90s fastball overpowers highschool hitters. He’s limiting himself to 85 pitches to guard his arm.
“He’s grown a lot for the reason that starting of the 12 months,” coach TJ Foreman stated.
Bateman can also be one in every of Camarillo’s high hitters. He had an RBI single within the first inning and one other single within the third. Tommy Goodin had two RBI hits. The Scorpions, seeded No. 1 in Division 4, had 4 bunts within the sport, two going for singles. They may play at Murrieta Valley on Tuesday.
Hart 5, Simi Valley 4: In a wild Division 2 opener with darkness lurking within the backside of the 14th inning, Hart lastly gained when Brayden Jefferis drove within the profitable run with a one-out sacrifice fly. There have been many heroes for Hart, which trailed 3-0. Troy Cooper entered the sport within the eighth inning and allowed one hit in seven innings of aid.
Playoff magic taking place at Hart proper now!!!! Brady Werther with a 2-run HR on a 2-1 depend, ties it up within the backside of the seventh! Let’s go Hart!!! pic.twitter.com/wSVdmgbyso
— Hart Excessive College (@HartHigh) Could 3, 2024
However it was junior Brady Werther coming via most of all. He hit a two-run dwelling run to tie the sport 3-3 within the backside of the seventh. He hit an RBI double to tie the sport 4-4 within the backside of the ninth. The win delays retirement plans for Hart coach Jim Ozella. The crew advances to Tuesday’s second spherical at Newport Harbor.
Maranatha 4, Royal 0: Zach Strickland threw a no-hitter with 17 strikeouts in Maranatha’s Division 2 opener.
Villa Park 6, Bishop Amat 1: Justin Tims struck out 9 and walked none in throwing a shutout within the Division 1 opener. Shawn Romero had three hits.
Orange Lutheran 6, Sierra Canyon 0: A six-run sixth inning despatched the Lancers into the subsequent spherical of the Division 1 playoffs. Gary Morse threw a one-hit shutout. Freshman Sean Parrow had the Lancers shut out for 5 innings however a bases-loaded stroll and bases-loaded hit batter within the sixth obtained the Lancers rolling. Derek Curiel had a two-run single.
Westlake 10, Mira Costa 1: Johnny Backus hit a three-run dwelling run within the first inning, and Nolan Johnson drove in 5 runs for Westlake, seeded No. 1 in Division 2. Dylan Volantis struck out 10 in six innings.
Arcadia 3, Lengthy Seashore Poly 0: Gabriel Lopez struck out eight, walked none and allowed 4 hits in 6 1/3 innings for Arcadia in Division 2.
Valencia 7, Aliso Niguel 1: Michael Mair threw a four-hitter and Aiden Voyles had 4 hits in Valencia’s 7-1 win.
San Juan Hills 1, Cajon 0: Drew Nelson threw six scoreless innings for San Juan Hills.
Ayala 6, La Serna 1: Caleb Trugman struck out 9 in six innings and Dylan Wooden had two hits and two RBIs for Ayala.
Arlington 4, Woodbridge 2: Nathan Chavez and Cody Kiemele mixed on a seven-hitter for Arlington.
St. Francis 8, Windward 3: Jordan Lewallen had two hits and three RBIs for St. Francis.
Newport Harbor 1, Capistrano Valley Christian 0: Ryan Williams went 4 for 4 to steer Newport Harbor.
Quartz Hill 13, Constitution Oak 1: Ismael Quintero struck out eight in six innings.
Chatsworth 7, Birmingham 3: The Chancellors handed Birmingham its first defeat after 12 consecutive West Valley League victories. Logan Ruiz had two hits and two RBIs and Mason Ruiz threw 5 innings for the Chancellors.