Baseball jumps out to 4-0 starts
The Sierra Canyon baseball team is having no issues winning games in 2023 despite not having the services of top pitchers Jaden Noot, Kassius Thomas and Max Martin, who all graduated a year ago.
The Trailblazers are doing it with their bats this year.
Sierra Canyon has sprinted to a 4-0 overall record after victories against Buena of Ventura, Camarillo, San Marcos of Santa Barbara and Rio Mesa of Oxnard.
Grant Werdesheim, Kheden Hettiger and Omar Cisneros each had two hits against Rio Mesa, Ethan Montes had an RBI single and freshman Brayden Charness gave up no runs on one hit in four innings in the latest win against Rio Mesa.
The Trailblazers are expected to play Thousand Oaks on the road Thursday pending the weather forecast.
Caden Sramek, a sophomore, went five innings last Thursday against San Marcos and only gave up one run and a walk with two strikeouts. Brady Hewitt got the save in relief and Cisneros had three hits to pace the offense.
Ethan Munoz had two hits, Andrew Nelson had a hit and an RBI and Jake Levin had an RBI.
Munoz and Hettiger each had multiple hits against Camarillo and Grayson Gullage doubled. Sierra Canyon was able to overcome pro prospect Boston Bateman on the mound. Bateman also homered to deep left field for the Scorpions. However, the 6-foot-7 left-hander was wild on the mound and Sierra Canyon was patient.
In the season opener against Buena, the Trailblazers won 15-11. Munoz had three hits and three RBI, Werdesheim had two hits and three RBI, Hewitt had two hits, including a home run and three RBI. Cisneros and Hettiger each scored three runs.
The games will get tougher with 21 Mission League games on the horizon against the likes of Harvard-Westlake, Notre Dame and Crespi.
Can the pitching hold up and can the bats stay alive will be the ultimate question?