Behind 6 hits, 12 free bases, Anzar downs Calvary Christian
12-3
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
It’s a small team – just 11 players on the roster, but Anzar High manager Andrew Barragan is calling this year’s Hawks baseball squad the best in his three years at the helm.
“They’re all hustlers and they all are pretty vocal this year,” Barragan said.
And they’re pretty young as well, with five freshmen and three sophomores cracking the lineup. But despite their youthful makeup, Barragan is pleased with his team’s quickness to adapt, especially the five first-year players, each of whom will start for Anzar this season, each of whom played travel ball during the offseason.
“And that helps a lot,” Barragan said.
“They have heart. They want to learn.”
Moving from the Mission Trail Athletic League to the Coastal Athletic League will also help. Battling the MTAL’s best in Pacific Grove, Carmel, Stevenson and King City last season, the Hawks struggled to compete and compiled a dismal 2-17 record, 0-14 in the MTAL.
But the move to the CAL should even the playing field significantly as Anzar will compete with two other teams, Calvary Christian and Anchorpoint.
“We’re finally able to be competitive,” Barragan said. “These are schools that are our size and we’re actually able to work on stuff.”
Following Monday’s 12-3 win over Calvary Christian in the CAL opener, Anzar already has more wins – the team is 1-0 in the CAL, 3-4 overall – than all of last season.
Behind 10 runs over the first two innings, the Hawks took advantage of 12 free bases and six hits to easily defeat the Warriors by nine runs.
Devon Parish led the charge for Anzar with three innings of work on the hill, where he struck out six and allowed three runs on three hits. At the plate, Parish was 2-for-4 with four RBI.
The Hawks will see Calvary Christian again on Wednesday.
Anzar’s preseason slate included a 24-1 throttling of Alma Heights and an 8-3 victory against Pajaro Valley, but also a pair of losses to St. Francis CCC (0-15, 0-9) and Gonzales (0-6, 0-4).
Barragan, though, remains optimistic.
“I’m pretty excited,” he said. “It’s a young squad, but they’re five freshmen that I can grow with.”
One freshman, Nick Salgado, is expected to be Anzar’s No. 2 starter on the mound, as well as the team’s starting third baseman and cleanup hitter.
“He has the best arm I’ve seen on a freshman in a while,” Barragan said. “It’s incredible how well he’s adapted.”
Sophomore Tanner McKinney is expected to be Anzar’s No. 3 pitcher, and could be a strong middle reliever, Barragan said, while the team’s lone senior, Paolo Marra-Biggs, will look to be the Hawks’ closer.
“This year, I probably have the best team I’ve had since being at Anzar,” Barragan said. “They want to learn. These kids have the drive.”
Anzar 12, Calvary Christian 3
The Hawks jumped out to a 10-1 lead through two innings of play Monday, capitalizing on a slew of free bases. Devon Parish had a pair of two-run singles in the first and second innings after Calvary loaded the bases each time behind walks and hit-batsmen.
While Parish started on the mound for Anzar, Tanner McKinney (3IP, 1H, 0R, 3K, 1BB) and Paolo Marra-Biggs (1IP, 2K, 0H, 0R) finished the game in relief.
Manager Andrew Barragan also received a jolt off the bench from freshman Aaron Grimes, who finished the game 2-for-2 at the pate with a double and an RBI in the fifth inning.
Grimes, though, didn’t come out for practice until last Friday.
“The kid came out of nowhere,” said an excited Barragan.
Anzar will host Calvary Christian on Wednesday at 4 p.m., in San Juan Bautista.
ANZAR – 550 100 1 – 12 6 2
CALVARY – 102 000 0 – 3 5 2
WP: D. Parish (3-1)
LP: B. Palma
