New Blood, Old Lessons: The Rise of Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Guidance of James Tronstein
In a thrilling clash of the Mission League, Harvard-Westlake emerges victorious with a 2-1 score over Crespi in an intense matchup.
If you've been catching up on Major League Baseball chatter, then you've probably heard about Pete Crow-Armstrong's electrifying defense. But, for a Harvard-Westlake junior center fielder named James Tronstein, Crow-Armstrong isn't just a hot topic—he's an impressive alum and a mentor.
"As a kids, we always look up to those who came before us," Tronstein said, "and Peter is one of those individuals I learn from."
Tronstein, bound for Stanford, did his best to emulate Crow-Armstrong when he snatched a deep fly ball hit by Landon Hodge in the seventh inning on Tuesday. With a leap and a crash into the fence, Tronstein secured the catch and helped the Wolverines nail a 2-1 victory over Crespi, tying them for first in the Mission League.
"I was pretty positive James would catch it," explained Justin Kirchner, the Wolverines' sophomore pitcher, who finished the game with a complete shutout. "Peter may not have been here, but James isn't too far behind."
In their clash with Crespi, the Wolverines managed to outsmart Jackson Eisenhauer, a pitcher with an impressive 7-1 record. Tronstein got the ball rolling in the third inning with a perfectly executed bunt, resulting in an error and setting the stage for a 2-0 lead. Jake Kim then drove in Tronstein with a bloop single.
Crespi didn't give up easily—scoring a run off a sacrifice fly from Justin Weiss in the sixth—but they couldn't match the Wolverines' spirit. The deciding moment came in the seventh. Tyler Walton spearheaded a promising inning, smacking a single, and Hodge, a Louisiana State commit, sent a deep fly ball to left center. Tronstein, being the eager learner he is, read the wind well, and secured the catch. "I knew that wall would take a hit," Tronstein said, smiling.
On Wednesday, the teams meet again at Hartunian Field, followed by a return to O'Malley Field on Friday in the much-anticipated "parking lot Mission League championship series."
More Baseball Action Across Towns:
- Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 6, Loyola 2: With two hits and three RBIs, Jacob Madrid led the Knights in their quest for a playoff spot.
- St. Francis 5, Sierra Canyon 3: Powered by Noah Aguilar-Tanphanich's complete game, St. Francis clinched the victory.
- Chaminade 5, Bishop Alemany 1: Isaiah Hearn and Jackson Schroeder teamed up for a shutout, with Hearn racking up three hits and Schroeder giving up only one hit in six innings.
- St. John Bosco 6, JSerra 1: In this matchup, Moises Razo stole two bases and knocked in two runs. Trevor Heishman worked tirelessly, striking out seven in six innings.
- Orange Lutheran 16, Mater Dei 0: With seven RBIs and four hits, Wyatt Hanoian shone brightly, while Brady Murrietta had a standout game as well, collecting four hits.
- Servite 11, Santa Margarita 4: Aided by Miles Scott's three hits and Austin Boatwright's three RBIs, the Friars took a convincing win.
- Los Alamitos 6, Fountain Valley 2: Powered by Tristin Dalzell's impressive pitching effort, Los Alamitos emerged victorious.
- Huntington Beach 18, Edison 1: Jared Grindlinger and Jayton Greer put on a hitting clinic, helping the Oilers seal the deal.
- Corona 5, Roosevelt 0: Ethin Bingaman continued his dominating pitching streak, striking out 11 and throwing a two-hitter for Corona's 14th shutout of the season.
- Norco 6, Corona Santiago 0: With Jordan Ayala on the mound, striking out nine and throwing a five-hit shutout, Norco dominated Santiago.
- Calabasas 9, Thousand Oaks 8: In a nail-biting finish, Jack Quirk contributed a walk-off RBI to help the Coyotes clinch the win, strengthening their playoff chances.
- Newbury Park 8, Oaks Christian 7: In the final moments, Nathaniel Nunez produced a walk-off single, wrapping up an exciting comeback for Newbury Park. Chad Rolison made an impressive offensive showing for Oaks Christian, accumulating two hits and three RBIs.
- Westlake 10, Agoura 2: The highlight of this game was Noah Stead's grand slam, his 12th career home run for Westlake.
- Ayala 7, Bonita 4: With a powerful three-run home run, Landen Lambert led Bonita's offence, but it wasn't enough to secure the victory.
- Santa Monica 4, Culver City 1: Jaxson Ehlers and Blue Hunter both had great games offensively, with two hits and two RBIs each, respectively.
- Bishop Montgomery 9, Salesian 0: Pierson Howe ace, Howe demonstrated his exceptional pitching skills, striking out 15 for Bishop Montgomery.
- Arcadia 3, Crescenta Valley 0: With a shutout win, Gus Cooper handed the Pacific League title to Arcadia.
Softball Action Across Towns:
- Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 10, Sierra Canyon 0: Aliyah Garcia put on an impressive pitching performance, ensuring Notre Dame's undefeated record in the Mission League. Ellayne Tellez-Perez chipped in offensively, recording two hits and two RBIs.
- Orange Lutheran 2, JSerra 1: In an engaging battle, Cate Medvitz delivered the crucial hit in the bottom of the seventh, propelling Lutheran into the lead and overcoming their initial 1-0 deficit.
- In the heart of California, Los Angeles' own James Tronstein, a Stanford-bound baseball player, attempted an imitation of Pete Crow-Armstrong's style, complete with a leap and a crash into the fence, securing a crucial catch for the Wolverines.
- Meanwhile, in another part of the state, a high school baseball player named Isaiah Hearn teamed up with Jackson Schroeder to outshine Crespi's impressive pitcher, Jackson Eisenhauer, clinching a shutout victory for St. Francis.
- As the baseball season in California continues, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame's Jacob Madrid led the Knights with two hits and three RBIs in their pursuit of a playoff spot.
- In the world of softball, Aliyah Garcia of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame showed off her pitching prowess, ensuring her team's undefeated record in the Mission League with a shutout against Sierra Canyon.
- In a nail-biting softball match, Newbury Park's Nathaniel Nunez delivered a walk-off single, securing a comeback victory against Oaks Christian.
