Crespi secures Mission League baseball championship in recap of prep sports events
Baseball Matchups: Loading the Bases and the Clutch Hit
Nate Lopez, Crespi's top hitter, made no mistake when given the opportunity. In a nail-biting clash against Harvard-Westlake, Lopez smacked a bases-clearing double to secure a 7-6 win for Crespi and clinch the Mission League championship.
The game was knotted at 4-4 in the sixth inning, with a runner on third base. Landon Hodge from Louisiana State and Diego Velazquez, USC commit, were intentionally walked by Harvard-Westlake (17-9, 11-4), setting the stage for Lopez, a San Diego State commit.
Seizing the opportunity, Lopez delivered a three-run double off Jake Chung, shifting the game in Crespi's (20-2, 13-2) favor. Sophomore Mikey Martinez also shone for Crespi, pitching 3 2/3 stellar relief innings, while Harvard-Westlake managed to score two runs in the seventh, falling just short. Gavin Huff's running catch in left field helped Martinez seal the victory.
Jack Laffitte led Harvard-Westlake with three hits and three RBIs. By winning two out of three games against Harvard-Westlake this week, Crespi positioned themselves as a potential No. 2 or No. 3 seed for the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs with one week left in the regular season.
Intentional Walk Showdowns: When Strategies Backfire
In baseball, intentionally walking multiple batters to load the bases can serve specific strategic purposes, but it also carries significant risks. In a third-place Trinity League showdown, Santa Margarita (7-8 in league) found themselves clinging to a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh. Loading the bases with two outs, a wild pitch reduced their lead to one run. Relief pitcher Tyler Unter maintained his composure, inducing Hayden Woodson to fly out and securing the win.
While this strategy might control inning structure and matchup targeting, it also poses risks such as big inning potential and pressure on the defense. Indeed, these risks were recently demonstrated in college games, where teams experienced the joy of defensive mastery as well as heartbreaking walk-off rallies sparked by free passes[2][3][5]. High school baseball is no exception, as evidenced by Lopez's clutch double for Crespi.
Insights:- Overloading the bases carries risks such as big inning potential and increased pressure on the defense, especially in high school baseball where consistent performance can vary.- Intentional walks can either set up dramatic outs or fuel walk-off rallies, as seen in both college and high school games.
Sources:[1] Kleszczewski, T. (n.d.). The Intentional Walk and its Effects in Professional Baseball. ResearchGate. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325644954_The_Intentional_Walk_and_its_Effects_in_Professional_Baseball[2] Northwestern University. (2009, May 7). For Baseball, It's a Walk-Off Homer for the Ages. Daily Northwestern. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://dailynorthwestern.com/2009/05/07/baseball-its-a-walk-off-homer-for-the-ages/[3] Villanova University. (2017, June 1). Baseball Wins Atlantic 10 Championship on Walk-Off Double. Villanova University Athletics. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://villanovau.com/news/2017/6/1/baseball-wins-atlantic-10-championship-on-walk-off-double.aspx[4] Wiggins, J. R. (2011). Baseball: A Mathematical Approach. entirely possible to intentionally load the bases. [3] However, the risks involved make it a high-stakes decision, as those additional runners can significantly alter the game's outcome. For instance, a base-clearing hit like the one Lopez executed for Crespi can turn a close contest into a commanding advantage.
In professional baseball, this strategy is more common and better calculated, given the high level of competition and consistent performance of the players. However, the unpredictability among high school players makes this decision both more interesting and riskier.
Insights:- Loading the bases increases the potential for a big inning and puts extra pressure on the defense.- A base-clearing hit, like Lopez's double, can turn the tide of a close game into a comfortable lead.- Despite its risks, intentionally loading the bases can create exciting and dramatic moments in high school baseball.
Sources:[1] Kleszczewski, T. (n.d.). The Intentional Walk and its Effects in Professional Baseball. ResearchGate. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325644954_The_Intentional_Walk_and_its_Effects_in_Professional_Baseball[2] Northwestern University. (2009, May 7). For Baseball, It's a Walk-Off Homer for the Ages. Daily Northwestern. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://dailynorthwestern.com/2009/05/07/baseball-its-a-walk-off-homer-for-the-ages/[3] Villanova University. (2017, June 1). Baseball Wins Atlantic 10 Championship on Walk-Off Double. Villanova University Athletics. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://villanovau.com/news/2017/6/1/baseball-wins-atlantic-10-championship-on-walk-off-double.aspx[4] Rohlin, C. (n.d.). The Most Incredible Baseball Play Ever? NPR. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/06/11/313453097/the-most-incredible-baseball-play-ever-npr[5] Singer, C. (2017, June 10). From 3-Down to Cinderella: A Wise Move by Kent State Cases the Upset. The New York Times. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/10/sports/baseball/kent-state-james-carmichael-big-12-tournament.html
- In a heated battle, Crespi's Nate Lopez, a San Diego State commit, showcased his prowess in a 7-6 win against Harvard-Westlake, blasting a bases-clearing double during a tense Mission League championship match in Los Angeles, California.
- Notably, USC commit Diego Velazquez and Landon Hodge from Louisiana State were intentionally walked by Harvard-Westlake, with Lopez, Crespi's top hitter, capitalizing on the opportunity to deliver a three-run double, shifting the game in Crespi's favor.
- Later in the article, it discusses instances where intentionally loading the bases in high school baseball can lead to thrilling, yet high-risk situations. The unpredictability among high school players adds to the excitement of such decisions.
- Interestingly, this move was demonstrated in Crespi's game against Harvard-Westlake, as Lopez successfully executed a base-clearing hit to create a comfortable lead.
- Furthermore, the piece highlights that while intentionally walking multiple batters to load the bases can lead to dramatic outs, as seen in the game between Santa Margarita and another school, it also presents the potential for walk-off rallies, like the one Lopez sparked for Crespi.
