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The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial
Lakewood has been known to play it slow and steady to win the race even when they’re faced with extra innings.
The Lancers battled out a pair of extra innings while visiting Long Beach Poly on Wednesday and an RBI single from Andres Roman in the ninth proved to be the difference in a 2-1 Lakewood win.
Lakewood came in off an 11-inning win against Mayfair four days prior and have leaned on their slow-paced approach. After the game Lakewood coach Spud O’Neil talked about his team’s patient approach, saying, “We just have to grind these types of games out.”
“Saturday we played in eleven and won, and now we have this on, so we know how to win games in extra innings,” he added. “We don’t hit the ball as well as other teams so we have to do things differently. Sometimes we have guys who try to be the heroes and swing out of their rear end, but other guys play it with patience and that’s when you succeed. But it’s just all about grinding it out, and luckily our pitching staff has kept us in every game.”
Aiden DeStouet started for the Lancers and gave his offense plenty of cushion to get going through the early innings. DeStouet tossed a scoreless 6.2 innings while scattering seven hits and two walks. He struck out three.
“I just came into the game with the mindset of competing and trusting my defense,” DeStouet said. “I had a couple of rough innings there but I just trusted my defense and the guys around me.”
Poly starter Joshue Sayre also started strong by striking out the side in the top of the first inning. He finished with eight.
The Lancers were able to strike first in the third inning as a single and stolen base from Tanner Miramontes put a runner in scoring position. A bunt single from Andrew Ochoa and an RBI sacrifice bunt from Angelo Ortiz plated Miramontes for a 1-0 lead.
Despite a shaky third inning the Jackrabbits bent but didn’t break and tighten up on defense behind Sayre who delivered three consecutive 1-2-3 innings. He allowed just a single hit after the third inning in eight innings on the mound. He scattered four hits and didn’t walk a batter.
“All of our pitchers this year have been standing on their head waiting for the offense to catch up,” Poly coach Martin Rodriguez said of Sayre. “But again he pitched a fantastic game. Going back a week ago in his game against Downey he threw a two-hit complete game shutout and he was a similar guy on the mound today. He was really just hitting on all of his spots.”
With no momentum on offense through the first six innings the Jackrabbits had just the right guy in mind while down a run in the bottom of the seventh. After an Adrian Bernal walk, Nate Berumen stepped up to the plate before smacking his signature RBI double to left field to tie it up and send the game into extra innings.
Beruman is no stranger to these types of big moments, and has been one of the most clutch players in the Moore League after hitting a memorable walk-off RBI against Millikan at the end of last season.
“(Berumen) is our emotional leader and our offensive leader,” Rodriguez said. “He had his nose taped up after tipping a ball in the face yesterday and was adamant about playing today. He got cleared by the training staff and he’s definitely the spark that we need. We’ve had him all over the lineup but we need his knowledge at the top of the order. Late in the game not only can he put down bunts and beat out throws but he can put a ball to Martin Luther King (park) when you need it too.”
Lakewood was able to find the first and only spark of momentum in extra innings, as a walk and stolen base by Angelo Ortiz in the ninth set the Lancer’s up. A few at-bats later, Andres Roman was able to sneak one through the defense for an RBI single, before the Lancer’s went on to conduct a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth inning to win it 2-1.
The Lancer’s will face Mira Costa on Saturday before facing Rivals Millikan next Wednesday.
For Poly, the Jackrabbits face a quick turnaround and will face Jordan on Friday. Poly will also play in the Halo Classic at Angels Stadium on Saturday against Arlington.
