Legends Sweep Seagulls, Set up Crucial Weekend
Returning to San Mateo to host the San Francisco Seagulls, the Legends depart the week with two victories Tuesday and Wednesday night. Diego Menjivar, a recent Bradley University commit, and Ray Hernandez both provided strong outings while the offenses’ aggressive base running and timely hitting overpowered the Seagulls.
Tuesday Night
Not batting an eye after the Seagulls early 1-0 lead in the 1st, simply because it was our turn to hit. Will Anderson and TJ Schmalzle were each plunked while James Bose, a recent Santa Clara University commit, earned a walk loading the bases for Dane Most.
Prior to the game, Most mentioned his joy for playing in the field opposed to just hitting in the Designated Hitter spot. “It allows me to focus on the defensive side of the ball, and not focus on every hitting outcome,” he said. Starting at third base, Most fell behind early in the count but still crushed a breaking ball that just lay fair. His double scored two and set up an Austin Rabago RBI single, putting the Legends in front 3-1.
Carrying the lead into the 3rd, the top of the order was ready to add to their highlight tapes. Schmalzle lined a frozen rope, gradually climbing over the Center Fielders head as he glided into third. Bose would waste no time by scoring him on a sacrifice fly.
Things became unpredictable at this point. After Most was hit by a pitch, Rabago collected his second hit of the night advancing Most to third. Moments later, Seagulls starting pitcher Ben Eisenhauer balked, forcing Most to score. The next inning, Charlie Deggeller would score after another balk was committed by Seagulls reliever, Dwyer Lewis. Now leading 6-1, all eyes shifted to Menjivar who had found a healthy rhythm. He would deal through six innings allowing two earned runs while striking out two. A noticeable increase in performance after Menjivar was still recovering from an illness last week when he pitched.
Entering the 7th, it was the bullpens time to shine despite having some rough goings as of late. Nick Albro took the ball and was immediately put in the stretch. With a 6-2 lead, the tying run was at the plate. Palms began to sweat despite feeling in control ever since Mosts’ 2-run double in the 1st. A sacrifice fly brought the Seagulls within three as the go-ahead run approached the box. Having created a stress inning, Albro chose to respond by forcing an unproductive weak fly out to Schmalzle. Needing one more out, he fired a 2-2 fastball up and away, striking the top of the zone for the third out.
Dylan Trammell cruised through the final two innings without allowing a baserunner, earning him a six out save. Menjivar earned the win as the Legends beat the Seagulls 6-3.
Wednesday Night
The ace, Ray Hernandez, otherwise known as “Sway Ray” due to his rocking of the glove during his pitch windup, took the ball. The perfect arm to set up a two game win streak, coming off back-to-back starts with seven innings of work and allowing two runs or less.
Trailing 2-1 in the 2nd was nothing new for the Legends. A leadoff walk and a two out hit by pitch set the table for recent University of Akron commit, Tucker Biehl. Ahead in the count, he jumped on a 2-1 fastball easily scoring both runners as he slid into third with a two-run triple. Another game where the Legends offense capitalized off free bases and traded them in for runs. Bose kept the hot bats rolling with a lead off double in the next inning. With two outs and the Seagulls working to keep it a 3-3 game, Isaiah Landry broke their hearts with a loud RBI single to right.
Head Coach Nick Sanzeri stated from the jump, he built this team around being aggressive on both sides of the field. Adding Quincy Via to the roster was important in order to attain that goal. Although hitting second, he led off the 5th with a single. On the first pitch, he stole second with ease. Four pitches later, he swiped third and forced an errored throw into shallow left field. If you think Via stopped at third, then you’ve never seen him play. After his leadoff single, within the matter of five pitches, Via had the Legends back in the run column.
Sanzeri also mentioned playing together, and James Bose was done trading leads with the Seagulls. Taking a page out of Biehl’s playbook, Bose ripped a triple to right. Anderson fought off a few strikes before skying a sacrifice fly as the Legends regained the lead for good in the 7th.
Sway Ray called it a night after five innings allowing just two earned runs. Not a typical night from Hernandez but strong work setting his team up for a chance to win. The final four innings were all Max Babich. Despite a bumpy sixth inning, Babich cruised through the rest of the game retiring nine of the last ten Seagulls. The southpaw totaled three strikeouts on just two hits and a walk, earning himself the win.
What’s to Come?
With their two wins this week, the Legends currently sit fifth in the California Collegiate League North Division. They stand just two and half games back from the Alameda Merchants and Walnut Creek Crawdads who sit atop the standings. (Note the Legends are missing a 13-0 win vs Merchants)
With just under six weeks left in the season, it’s important not to look too far ahead. With that being said, games against opponents who are ahead in the standings, become valuable. Teams to note are the Sonoma Stompers, Crawdads and the Merchants. All of whom, the Legends have beaten at least once this season.
The Legends face the Stompers tomorrow in Sonoma who have won four of their five meetings thus far. A win Friday will put the Legends on a three game win streak for the second time this season. On Saturday, the Legends welcome back the Seagulls who they’ve beaten in three of their four contests.
It’s also important to note, the Stompers face the Crawdads in Sonoma on Saturday. A guaranteed loss for one of those teams, creates an opportunity for the Legends to shorten the gap in the standings.
July is approaching and before you know it, the CCL Playoffs are next week. Be on the lookout for the Legends at the College of San Mateo as winning becomes more and more precious.
Weekend Schedule
6/27 @ Sonoma Stompers 6pm
6/28 vs San Francisco Seagulls 1pm
6/29 @ Sonoma Stompers 1:05pm
*Check out the Legends Calendar for the complete season schedule*
