JC Baseball: AVC offense quiet in conference loss to Citrus
March 7, 2015
ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
LANCASTER — Antelope Valley College tried really hard to score on Saturday.
So hard indeed that it ran into two outs at home plate during a 4-1 Western State South Conference loss to Citrus.
"Twice I really forced the envelope trying to score that run," AVC head coach John Livermont said. "It didn't happen. The other team made a play. You have to tip your hat to them, but that's how aggressive ... I have to take chances I don't have to do normally, but the hits just haven't been coming."
The loss was the third in a row for the Marauders (3-10, 0-3 WSS), who are still searching for their first conference win.
After picking up four runs in their conference opener at Canyons on Tuesday and three at Glendale on Thursday, AVC couldn't avoid regressing offensively on Saturday.
With two outs in the second inning of a scoreless game, AVC's Fernando Reyes Jr. took off from first following Carlos Ochoa's line-drive single to right field and was told to round toward home. He did, only to find Citrus catcher Shawn Sweeney ball-in-glove well ahead of his slide.
"Timely hitting just hasn't been there so far," Livermont said.
AVC got a clutch hit in the seventh. Trailing 4-0 with two outs and men at first and second, Ochoa again came through with a double to center field to score Tyler Pittman. Reyes Jr., however, was once again sent home and again thrown at out at the plate in a close play.
AVC got two hits apiece from Reyes Jr. and Ochoa, while Pittman had a single and a walk. Josh van Dorp also walked, completing the list of Marauders who reached base against Citrus starter Cameron Rodriguez (7 innings, 4 hits, 2 walks) and reliever Nicholas Sergi (2 innings, 1 hit, 1 strikeout).
The Marauders' top of the lineup, composed of Konner Arnold, Eric Baynton and Jose Tejada, went 0-for-12.
"It's not easy because we're pressing," Arnold said. "We're trying to force the ball to get hits instead of doing what we've been doing our whole lives, just hit the ball good like we know.
"We're trying too hard, like (Livermont) said. We put too much pressure on ourselves."
AVC starter Arturo Sanchez was solid in 4 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
He was relieved after loading the bases on two walks and a hit batter with two outs in the fourth, giving way to Hunter Greenough. The Canadian reliever gave up a first-pitch single to Citrus sophomore Troy Resch, which scored Anthony Virgen, before getting a ground out to get out of the jam.
Greenough went 1 2/3 innings and gave up two hits, four walk and two runs. Shawn Hunt, Andrew Oberlander and Julian Tejada combined to shut out Citrus (8-7-1, 2-1) the rest of the way.
But on this day, the problem wasn't pitching. The AVC staff gave up four hits and nine walks.
"The pitchers are feeling the pressure because they can't give up any runs," Livermore said.
Added Sanchez: "I feel like the hitting is going to come eventually."
Adding insult to injury, the loss dropped the Marauders to 0-6 at home this season.
Strangely enough, AVC hasn't scored more than three runs in a game while playing at home.
"That's the worst part because that's where you want to win," Konner said.
Added Livermont: "I just don't have an answer for why we're not winning at home."
On Saturday, it was partly due to trying too hard. AVC is on the road at Bakersfield next Tuesday before coming back to play host to L.A. Valley next Thursday.
The Marauders hope to get some runs to help them turn around what they feel is nothing much than a temporary funk.
"We're not a bad team, even though our record says it is," Sanchez said. "I feel like we just need to get in a groove, and once we do, there's no turning back."
ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
LANCASTER — Antelope Valley College tried really hard to score on Saturday.
So hard indeed that it ran into two outs at home plate during a 4-1 Western State South Conference loss to Citrus.
"Twice I really forced the envelope trying to score that run," AVC head coach John Livermont said. "It didn't happen. The other team made a play. You have to tip your hat to them, but that's how aggressive ... I have to take chances I don't have to do normally, but the hits just haven't been coming."
The loss was the third in a row for the Marauders (3-10, 0-3 WSS), who are still searching for their first conference win.
After picking up four runs in their conference opener at Canyons on Tuesday and three at Glendale on Thursday, AVC couldn't avoid regressing offensively on Saturday.
With two outs in the second inning of a scoreless game, AVC's Fernando Reyes Jr. took off from first following Carlos Ochoa's line-drive single to right field and was told to round toward home. He did, only to find Citrus catcher Shawn Sweeney ball-in-glove well ahead of his slide.
"Timely hitting just hasn't been there so far," Livermont said.
AVC got a clutch hit in the seventh. Trailing 4-0 with two outs and men at first and second, Ochoa again came through with a double to center field to score Tyler Pittman. Reyes Jr., however, was once again sent home and again thrown at out at the plate in a close play.
AVC got two hits apiece from Reyes Jr. and Ochoa, while Pittman had a single and a walk. Josh van Dorp also walked, completing the list of Marauders who reached base against Citrus starter Cameron Rodriguez (7 innings, 4 hits, 2 walks) and reliever Nicholas Sergi (2 innings, 1 hit, 1 strikeout).
The Marauders' top of the lineup, composed of Konner Arnold, Eric Baynton and Jose Tejada, went 0-for-12.
"It's not easy because we're pressing," Arnold said. "We're trying to force the ball to get hits instead of doing what we've been doing our whole lives, just hit the ball good like we know.
"We're trying too hard, like (Livermont) said. We put too much pressure on ourselves."
AVC starter Arturo Sanchez was solid in 4 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
He was relieved after loading the bases on two walks and a hit batter with two outs in the fourth, giving way to Hunter Greenough. The Canadian reliever gave up a first-pitch single to Citrus sophomore Troy Resch, which scored Anthony Virgen, before getting a ground out to get out of the jam.
Greenough went 1 2/3 innings and gave up two hits, four walk and two runs. Shawn Hunt, Andrew Oberlander and Julian Tejada combined to shut out Citrus (8-7-1, 2-1) the rest of the way.
But on this day, the problem wasn't pitching. The AVC staff gave up four hits and nine walks.
"The pitchers are feeling the pressure because they can't give up any runs," Livermore said.
Added Sanchez: "I feel like the hitting is going to come eventually."
Adding insult to injury, the loss dropped the Marauders to 0-6 at home this season.
Strangely enough, AVC hasn't scored more than three runs in a game while playing at home.
"That's the worst part because that's where you want to win," Konner said.
Added Livermont: "I just don't have an answer for why we're not winning at home."
On Saturday, it was partly due to trying too hard. AVC is on the road at Bakersfield next Tuesday before coming back to play host to L.A. Valley next Thursday.
The Marauders hope to get some runs to help them turn around what they feel is nothing much than a temporary funk.
"We're not a bad team, even though our record says it is," Sanchez said. "I feel like we just need to get in a groove, and once we do, there's no turning back."