PALM SPRINGS, Calif.- The Palm Springs POWER improved to 2-0 in conference play as they took down the Arroyo Seco Sentinels 3-0. It was a pitching duel between the POWER’s Cameron Neff (St. Mary’s) and Sentinels’ Chris Davidson. Cameron Neff pitched five innings in which he gave up five hits and no runs. It seemed to be that at anytime the Sentinels would string together a hit or two Neff would answer right back with tremendous pitching to leave men on base. Chris Davidson pitched pretty well in his own right as he went 7.1 innings until the 8th when the POWER bats took charge of the game.
In the eighth inning the POWER scored three runs starting with a bases-loaded RBI single by Ryan Mota (Riverside CC). Right before the single by Ryan Mota the Sentinels thought it would be smart to intentionally walk John Mauldin (Baton Rouge CC). After the walk, Mauldin took matters into his own hands as he made it all the way to third base and stole home to add the third run of the game. Mauldin now has nine stolen bases on the year after he had three tonight.
Palm Springs broadcaster Clinton Cole caught up with Ryan Mota after the game. Mota said that before his at-bat he was just trying to put the ball in play and just wanted to get a run for his team and his hit found the hole.
Clinton also caught up with John Mauldin after the game. When asked about his steal home Mauldin said, “Thank God Cody (Ducote) didn’t swing, that would not have worked out in our benefit.” He also went on to claim that the steal home was the first time he had ever stole home. Well there’s a first time for everything!
One of the most impressive performances of the night came in relief from Bryan Menendez (UNLV). Brian came into the 6th and pitched an absolute gem. Menendez went 4.0 innings, giving up 1 hit and struck out 6 of the 13 batters he faced. That moves Menendez’s total strikeouts to 16 on the year in 11 2/3 innings of work.
The 11-2 POWER are off Monday night and will be back in action on Tuesday night as they take on the Arroyo Seco Saints, the brother team of the Arroyo Seco Sentinels. Tuesday night is also $1 beer night so come on out to support the POWER and great priced beer.
Alex Moore
