Baldwin sweeps to .500 mark

Not only did the Baldwin baseball team notch a series sweep against Long Beach on April 13, it swept away, with a 10-6 home win, many doubts about its current campaign, climbing to .500 to meet the season’s midpoint in Conference AA-II.

Having twice edged Long Beach in a doubleheader the previous day, winning 4-3 and 6-5, the Bruins picked up where they left off, using willful offense and quelling relief to put down a middle-inning bid by the Marines, whose first win in conference remained out of reach.

“It was shaky going into the year, losing my number one pitcher from surgery,” Baldwin coach Frank Esposito admitted, referring to senior Stephen Strategakos, who underwent offseason Tommy John surgery, and recently was restored to the roster purely as a designated hitter.  

“We’re a young team also,” continued Esposito, whose club improved to 4-4 in conference games. “But we’re putting hits together. We do this on a regular basis and things go all right.”

Things hadn’t gone all right for Baldwin as it came to bat in the fifth inning trailing by two runs. But an RBI single from sophomore catcher Reed Hoskins produced the Bruins’ go-ahead run, which proved decisive, as part of a four-run fifth-inning rally that chased Marines starter Sam Brinster and gave Baldwin an 8-6 advantage.

Brinster took the loss for Long Beach – which fell to 0-6 in AA-II and 1-6 overall – yielding six runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks, with two strikeouts through 4 1/3 innings.  Baldwin’s John Davison got credit for the win, retiring all seven batters he faced, three by strikeout, over 2 1/3 innings of relief.

Long Beach had taken the lead, 6-4, with a four-run top of the fifth.  Facing Bruins starter Michael Ahearn, Marines first baseman Mac Bernabeo laced a two-out, two-run double to left, which was followed by third baseman Michael Kramer’s RBI triple to center, and a run-scoring hit from right fielder Matteo Camarda.

“We have a good team but we’re playing below our ability level,” Long Beach coach Jason Zizza said. “We played close in both games yesterday, and today one more got away from us.”

Shortstop Fred Lucas collected two hits – including a sixth-inning, two-run homer that ran Baldwin’s tally into double figures – and three RBIs to pace the Bruins’ offense.  Third baseman David Algoza went 2-for-3 for Baldwin with a triple and two RBIs, while Strategakos and center fielder Jake Myles each had a hit and batted in a run for the Bruins.

“We work hard and I’m confident in this team,” Lucas said. “I knew we’d get back.  Johnny was on the mound, hitting his spots.  All we had to do was hit, and we did.”

Brinster doubled, tripled and drove in a run to lead Long Beach at the plate.

“It was a good series,” Esposito concluded.  “Everyone’s getting good experience – which is nice.”

Baldwin has a bye this week and returns to action on April 24 at Calhoun for a 4:30 p.m. start.