Shepherds unable to put the pieces together

Lance Smith - Downey, Calif.

BOX SCORE

Opening day of the season for the Shepherds did not go as they had hoped, suffering a 11-4 defeat at the hands of the East Los Angeles Dodgers. The game began to unravel in the bottom of the 2nd inning when the Dodgers got a hold of a fastball from starting pitcher Max Montplaisir, delivering a grand slam. After a 5 spot in the second inning, the Dodgers would pour on 4 more runs in the following 2 innings and the Shepherds struggled to mount a comeback from there.

At the plate, the Sheps struggled to get anything going as the Dodgers starting pitcher, Manuel Garcia, had command of the game from the start giving up just one run and one hit during 4 innings of work. After that, the Sheps had a few baserunners here and there, but were unable to overcome the early deficit. 

Shepherds starter Max Montplaisir picked up the loss (0-1), while the Dodgers Manuel Garcia earned the win (1-0).

Notes

• Joey Scotvold pitched 2.0 perfect innings in relief.

• Jake Lopez went 2 for 3 at the plate with a single and a double.

• Nathan Weatherly went 1 for 2 in 3 plate appearances with a walk and a 2-run homerun.

Quote from Coach Creason

“I think defensively all around we did very well. I think this team has all the right pieces and does all the right things, but like I said the biggest thing is just knocking the rust off, getting the rhythm, and getting the nerves out of the way. I think we’ll compete more in the zone, we’ll get more on time at the plate, and we’ll start to do some great things.”

What’s next

The Shepherds have their opening home game at Whittier Christian versus the Arroyo Seco Sentinels tomorrow at 1 PM PST. The game will be live streamed on the Shepherds Facebook page which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/socalfcabaseball/. To stay up to date on all things Shepherds baseball follow us on Instagram (@shepherds_baseball), Twitter (@SoCalShpherds), and Facebook (Southern California FCA Baseball).

Final

Shepherds- 4

East Los Angeles -11

Shepherds drop one to Redbirds 10-3

Sam Reel - LA, MIRADA, Calif.

The SoCal Shepherds fell to the Solana Beach Redbirds 10-3 at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino on Wednesday afternoon. 

Roy Washburn got the start for the Shepherds. Washburn went four innings, while striking out four and allowed one run that wasn’t earned. 

The Shepherds scored all of their runs in the top of the third. The inning started with three consecutive doubles from Sawyer Smith, Corey Treyes, and Jackson Van Ness. Both Treyes and Van Ness drove in runs with their doubles. Emry Jackson would drive in Van Ness with a sacrifice fly to left later in the inning. 

The Redbirds broke the game open in the fifth and sixth, with four and five run innings respectively. The game was called after seven innings due to time restraints at the stadium.

The Shepherds will play again next week, with times to be released at a later date. 

Shepherds split double header with Redbirds and Pirates

Sam Reel - LA MIRADA, Calif.

In-game one, the Shepherds were able to outscore the Solana Beach Redbirds 9-6 for their fourth consecutive win.

The Redbirds got out to an early 3-0 lead but that wouldn't last long. In the bottom of the third, Tanner Smith would hit a rocket on the ground to the right side of the field that the second baseman couldn't come up with that would drive in a pair to tie the game at three. One batter later, third baseman Tommy Acuna sent one over the left-field wall for a two-run homer to put the Shepherds up 5-3. Acuna finished the first game with two hits, two runs, and three RBI.

The Sheps would add on with a Sawyer Smith sacrifice fly in the fourth, and an Emry Jackson two-run double and Nathan Weatherly single in the fifth to bring the run total to nine on the day.

Austin Hallman would come on in the seventh to close it out. Hallman would strike out the side and pick up the save

In-game two, the Shepherds fell to the Inland Valley Pirates 3-1, as they couldn't get things going offensively and only had two hits on the day. Emry Jackson took the ball for the Sheps and went four innings, allowing three runs and striking out five. Austin Ruiz would put the Pirates ahead in the top of the first with a two-run double off the center-field wall. The designated hitter for the Shepherds, Corey Treyes, would get a run back on a sacrifice fly to center in the bottom of the second and would be the only run the Shepherds would score in game two.

Jacob Brothers, Caleb Pollema, and Andrew White would all pitch scoreless innings out of the bullpen in relief of Jackson. White would strike out the side in the seventh, and strand a pirate runner at third to keep the deficit at two.

Justin Estrada of the Pirates would close it out in the seventh with a one-two-three inning to stop the Shepherds winning streak.

Shepherds win third straight, beat cagerats 11-4

Sam Reel - LA MIRADA, Calif

For the first time this season, the Shepherds can officially say they are on a winning streak. After defeating the CageRats 11-4 the Sheps have now won three straight games.

Roy Washburn started the game for the Shepherds and was dominant throughout his six innings pitched. Throughout those six innings, Washburn allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and didn't walk anyone. In the first, Kyle Douphner drove in the first run of the game with a single. Washburn struggled to put batters away in the first as he threw 34 pitches in the first, but would settle down as he only threw 55 over the final five innings.

The CageRats's pitching couldn't slow down the Shepherds' bats for the second consecutive game. The Shepherds had 13 hits and were walked six times. Emry Jackson got things started in the bottom of the second by tying the game at one with an opposite-field single to left. Caleb Jung would score on a wild pitch to give the Shepherds a lead they would never surrender. In the third, the Sheps would pour it on with an eight-run inning where eleven men would come to plate. Sawyer Smith scored the first run of the inning after an error the second baseman. Tanner Smith and Tommy Acuna would follow soon after with back-to-back RBI singles. T. Smith would finish with three hits on the day. Chad Ragland would make it 6-1 with a sacrifice fly, Jackson would drive in a run with a double for his second RBI, and RBI singles by Will Cline and Sebastian Dunn would round out the inning.

Guz Zapata would have his second consecutive appearance where he would go two scoreless innings. Zapata was extremely efficient, only throwing 12 pitches over the two innings. In the ninth, Ragland would move to the mound and wrap up the win in his final appearance for the Shepherds this season.

The Shepherds have tomorrow off and will play again on Sunday.

Shepherds takedown CageRats 9-1 for second straight win

Sam Reel- LA MIRADA, Calif

BOX SCORE

For the first time this season, the SoCal Shepherds have won back-to-back games after taking down the California CageRats.

The game opened as a pitchers duel between Ryan McCarrel of the CageRats and Alex Escobar of the Sheps. Escobar was able to pitch in and out of trouble early, as he left the bases loaded in the second and Noah Reitmeyer saved at least one with a diving catch in left to end the third with runners at the corners. Escobar would finish with four innings pitched, one run allowed, and he struck out seven on the day.

The fourth inning brought the offense for both teams. CageRats second baseman Christian Juarez drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single to centerfield. That lead wouldn't last for long though, as the Shepherds would answer with four runs of their own. Tanner Smith would get things started with a three-run homer to right field for his fourth home run of the season. Caleb Jung would add on with a single that would score a run to give the Shepherds a three-run lead.

In the fifth, the Shepherds would score four runs for the second consecutive inning. A Jackson Van Ness double that split the gap in the left-center field would score two to start the scoring. T. Smith would follow Van Ness at the plate and would bat with a runner on third. Smith would get him home with a line-drive sacrifice fly to center and Tommy Acuna would drive in the final run of the inning with a base hit that scored Van Ness from second. The Shepherds would score their final run of the game in the eighth, with a Jung sac fly to center field.

The Shepherds bullpen once again continued their dominant stretch over their last few games, pitching five scoreless in relief of Escobar. Anthony Reynoso was the first man out for the Sheps and was wearing Providence Christian and Shepherds teammate Walter Roberts' jersey. Reynoso would walk two but get out of the jam to keep the CageRats at bay. Ben Peters would follow with a scoreless sixth, Nick Lycett would throw a scoreless seventh and eighth, and Josh Ramirez would seal the Shepherds win with a scoreless ninth.

The Shepherds will take on the Inland Valley Pirates tomorrow at 5 pm as they look to win their third straight.

Shepherds reach base 22 times, beat Redbirds 15-5

Sam Reel - LA MIRADA, Calif

BOX SCORE

The SoCal Shepherds found their way back into the win column on Wednesday with a big 15-5 win over the Solana Beach Redbirds.

The offense was the story in this one, as the Sheps scored fifteen runs on thirteen hits and eight walks. The top four men in the lineup accounted for seven of the Shepherds' hits. Right Fielder Jackson Van Ness had a season's best day at the plate, reaching base four times on two hits and two walks. Van Ness scored every time he was on base and drove in a pair with a single in the eighth.

Jacob Brothers picked up the win for the Shepherds, as he pitched four innings and allowed four Redbirds to score (three earned). Three of the four runs that Brothers allowed came in the top of the first inning, when Harrison Rodgers and Joseph Canty hit back to back homers.

The Redbirds lead wouldn't last for long as newcomer Caleb Jung would tie the game in the bottom of the first with a two-run double to left. Center fielder Sawyer Smith and third baseman Tommy Acuna would also drive in two runs on the day. Designated hitter Tanner Smith would drive in three runs out of the number three spot in the lineup and an Emry Jackson double down the right-field line drove in the deciding run in the fourth, as that put the Shepherds ahead 6-4.

The Sheps' bullpen was fantastic again, as the only run that they allowed was unearned off Joey Scotvold. Scotvold pitched two innings with two strikeouts before giving way to Gus Zapata in the seventh. Zapata pitched two scoreless innings and struck out two as he shut down the Redbirds to earn a hold. Shepherds' closer Austin Hallman came in a non save situation and shut the door. Hallman struck out two of the three men he faced and secured the seventh win of the season for the Shepherds.

The Shepherds will look to win back to back games for the first time this season tomorrow at 5 pm when they take on the California Cage Rats.

Shepherds drop battle, lose to IV Pirates 5-4

Sam Reel - LA MIRADA, Calif

BOX SCORE

The SoCal Shepherds dropped a tight one as they fell by a score of 5-4 to the Inland Valley Pirates.

The two Sunset League teams were even throughout, with the difference being an unearned run. Shepherds' starter Emry Jackson struggled with command, as he walked three over three and two-thirds innings in which he gave up five runs (three earned).

The Pirates jumped out to an early one nothing lead in the first inning, before the Shepherds answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half courtesy RBI groundouts by Tanner Smith and Tommy Acuna. The Pirates would follow with another run in the top of the second to take back the early lead.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Sheps had a golden opportunity to answer back and retake the lead. After three straight walks with two outs, Sir Gomez struck out Sebastian Dunn with the bases loaded to preserve the Pirate lead and retire the side.

Austin Ruiz would add to the Pirate lead in the top of the third with a two-run single before the Shepherds would start chipping away. Sheps' left fielder Chad Ragland would trim the deficit back down to one with a sacrifice fly. After the Pirates got one back in the fourth, Noah Reitmeyer drove in the final run of the game with an opposite-field home run to right.

The Shepherds' bullpen was the highlight of the day, as they pitched five and a third scoreless innings. Andrew White was the first man out of the pen, as the high schooler went two and a third shutout innings with three strikeouts. Nick Lycett, Josh Ramirez, and Ben Peters would pitch the final three innings combining for four strikeouts over that time.

The Shepherds will look to put all the pieces together on Wednesday as they take on the Solana Beach Redbirds at 5 pm.

Shepherds comeback late, beat CageRats

Sam Reel

BOX SCORE

The SoCal Shepherds won from behind on Sunday, as their six-run seventh inning was the difference in the 9-7 victory. Shepherds' starter Roy Washburn was solid again, however, his defense let him down throughout. Washburn allowed five runs with three of them being earned. Washburn also struck out six on the day. CageRats left fielder, Jared Jeffries, drove in the first two runs of the game with an RBI single in the second and a sac fly in the fourth. The Shepherds would answer with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, as Tanner Smith scored on an error and Reigning Sunset Baseball League Player of the Week Joey Scotvold hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

Three runs in the top of the fifth would give the lead back to the CageRats and they would hold that lead until the bottom of the seventh. Emry Jackson got things started for the Sheps' with a leadoff single to right. A single and a couple of walks later brought Sebastian Dunn to the plate with the bases loaded. Dunn would single to center and drive in two, a third runner would score from first on an error and give the Sheps a 6-5 lead. Dunn would then come around to score on two more errors by the Cagerats for the Sheps' seventh run. Scotvold added a couple of insurance runs with a two-run single to right. In total, the Shepherds sent eleven to the plate and six scored.

The Shepherds bullpen was fantastic as they kept the game close, and then held the lead in the latter half. Ben Peters, Josh Ramirez, and Caleb Pollema combined for three scoreless innings in the sixth, seventh, and eighth. Pollema picked up his first win of the season, as he pitched the seventh and struck out two on his birthday.

In the ninth, the CageRats rally fell short as they got two back but Joey Scotvold slammed the door and secured the 9-7 victory.

Shepherds lose high scoring affair

Sam Reel - LA MIRADA, Calif

BOX SCORE

The Shepherds dropped an offensive battle on Saturday afternoon, as the Solana Beach Redbirds took down the Sheps 12-10. The two teams combined for 34 hits on the day, with the Shepherds responsible for sixteen. The Shepherds also made three errors on the day.

Shepherds' starter Jacob Brothers had some tough luck throughout his start, as there were several bloop singles and weakly hit balls throughout the outing. The Redbirds scored three in the top of the first inning before the Shepherds followed with eight runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Tanner Smith got things rolling for the Shepherds as his opposite-field two-run double to left field drove in Sebastian Dunn and Jackson Van Ness, each of whom walked. RBI singles by Chad Ragland and Will Cline gave the Shepherds the lead, and Nathan Weatherly added onto the lead with a two-run double of his own. In total, twelve men came to the plate for the Shepherds before the third out was recorded.

T. Smith finished with three hits and three RBI as he continued his hot stretch. Third baseman Tommy Acuna finished with three hits in the cleanup spot. Acuna now has four multi-hit games this season, with all four coming within the last six games.

The Redbirds would chip away over the next several innings, scoring six straight runs and taking a one-run 9-8 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. T. Smith would tie the game with an RBI single, and the score would remain tied until the sixth.

In the top of the sixth, pinch hitter Luc Stuka's two-run homer gave the lead to the Redbirds for the final time, as they would add on a run in the seventh and win by the score of 12-10. Redbirds' third baseman Danny Becerra and shortstop Harrison Rodgers each had a huge day, with the five and six hitters in the Redbird lineup each having four hits on the day.

The Shepherds' will return to play tomorrow at 1:00 pm as they take on the California Cage Rats.

Shepherds fall to Pirates in lopsided affair

Sam Reel - LA MIRADA, Calif

The SoCal Shepherds dropped to 5-8 after a 10-0 loss to the Inland Valley Pirates on Thursday evening, the game was called after seven innings from a lack of daylight. Sheps' starter Walter Roberts struggled with command throughout his start, walking five and allowing four runs over the two and a third innings he pitched. Roberts would leave the game in the top of the third due to injury after a comebacker.

Alex Escobar would be the first man out of the pen, making his first appearance for the Shepherds. Escobar pitched an inning and two thirds and struck out three. He would allow two runs on one hit with each of the runs being unearned. Josh Ramirez and Gus Zapata would follow and allow the final four runs of the game over the fifth and sixth innings. A Hayden Winters home run off Zapata in the sixth was the straw that broke the Shepherds' back.

Second baseman and leadoff man for the Pirates, James Arakawa, led the way for the visitors as he went three for four with two runs scored and a stolen base.

Five hits were all the Shepherds' offense could muster during the Pirate shutout. The first four men in the order would reach base, with each of them recording a single.

The Shepherds are back in action on Saturday at 1 pm as they will take on the Solana Beach Redbirds and look to win their sixth of the season. As always, the game will be streamed live on Facebook.com/socalfcabaseball.