Legends Avoid Sweep

The Menlo Park Legends intercollegiate baseball team managed to avoid getting swept by the visiting Redding Colt 45’s by winning one of two games in yesterday’s doubleheader at Cañada College. The Colt 45’s won the first game 5-4 and the Legends won the second 8-2.

In the first game, Legends out-hit the Colt 45’s 10-to-4 and out-pitched (11 strikeouts-2 strikeouts) them, yet could not manage to come through with the win. The Colt 45’s got their runs in by hitting with men in scoring position and capitalized on every mistake made by the Legends.

Legends Starter Ray Torres found his groove early and struck out seven batters and allowed four hits, but gave up five runs. However, only two of those were earned runs. Ryan Reese and Joe Goldenberg pitched the final three innings, striking out four batters and allowing only one baserunner.

Three solo home runs by outfielder JT Greenhood, first baseman Skylar Brewer and third baseman Grant Nelson provided three runs for the Legends, but the team was only able to put one more run on the board.

Following the game one loss, the Legends appeared to be fired-up and had a must-win attitude. Though the Colt 45’s jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, the Legends managed to bounce back quickly and tie the game off of a two-run single by shortstop Pierson Jeremiah, who had five hits in the two games. The attack continued in the fifth inning when Goldenberg hit a three-run home run breaking the tie, giving the Legends a 5-2 lead.

“Coach Dave was working with me before the game, so a lot of my game at the plate today can be attributed to what he told me,” Goldenberg said. “Honestly, I was trying to hit a home run, and I came through.”

The Legends won’t be have another home game until July 11, as they prepare to travel to southern California to face the formidable Santa Barbara Foresters, San Luis Obispo Blues, and many other teams down there as well.

“We’ll find out if we’re ready for the level of competition we will face down there,” Manager David Klein said. “I’m very confident in the way we’ve been playing. We’re solid across the board. As long as we stay healthy throughout the entire thing and stay competitive on the bump, we should be just fine.”

The Legends face the Walnut Creek Crawdads tomorrow at Laney Junior College at 7pm.

-Max Darrow, Legends Sportswriter