Cal uses Bentworth errors to fuel Section 1-2A victory

The Bearcats committed five errors as the Trojans extended their winning streak for four.

Sometimes baseball is all about being opportunistic and taking advantage of all your chances.

On Monday, the California baseball team continued to do the little things that win games, taking advantage of five Bentworth errors and putting together clutch at-bats to extend its winning streak to four games with a 7-2 victory at Malden Yards.

After going winless in its first four games of the spring, the Trojans (4-3-1, 4-0) have regrouped and have been making winning plays.

“We’re finally getting healthy,” Cal coach Taylor Andrisko said. “The guys are working their butts off. We are learning how to win games with this group. It was a slow start and we took some lumps in non-section. Those losses helped us grow up. I just love the togetherness.”

One of the key catalysts for Cal in the Section 1-2A triumph was senior pitcher Caden Monticelli, who went 6 1/3 innings and allowed two unearned runs on five hits with 11 strikeouts and two walks on 104 pitches.

“I have complete faith and confidence in my catcher and my defense,” Monticelli said. “My teammates have my back and they play with so much energy for me. I threw a lot of strikes and got ahead in a lot of counts. It was fastball heavy today. I worked out of some jams and relied on my defense.”

Andrisko keeps it simple when it comes to dealing with his experienced pitcher on the rubber.

“I just try to stay out of his way,” Andrisko explained. “Caden is our ace and he was lights out today. When he works ahead, he is very difficult to hit. He did a good job of mixing speeds and throwing strikes. He was loose, had good command and everything was working.”

The five errors for the Bearcats (2-6, 2-5) were disastrous and led to four unearned runs. The visitors put together six hits, but left a total of nine runners on base in the section setback.

After the Trojans turned a beautiful 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the first, Ricky Lawson doubled with two outs in the bottom half of the frame for their first hit.

Clinton Havanis was able to get out of the inning with a flyout to left for the Bearcats. He was tagged with the loss, but pitched a solid game for Bentworth. The freshman lefty went 5 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs (three earned) with two strikeouts and two free passes on 98 pitches.

Cal scored the opening run in the bottom of the second. Logan Hartley started the frame with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. He scored off an infield error to make it 1-0.

The Trojans made it 3-0 in the bottom of the third when Weston Monticelli singled and advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw. After Chase Cicchitto drew a walk, Weston Monticelli stole third and later scored after an error.

Cicchitto scored later on an RBI groundout Cal tacked on one more run in the fourth when Weston Monticelli’s RBI groundout scored Eli Carpenter.

The Bearcats’ offense showed some life in the top of the fifth with two outs with back-to-back singles by Cameron Krejci and Jacob Cavanaugh, but Caden Monticelli wiggled out of the jam with a fielders’ choice to second base.

Bentworth finally cracked the scoreboard in the sixth with a pair of runs.

Lucas Burt, who reached base four times and had two singles, scored the Bearcats’ first run when Drake Mc-Clure was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Sam Wade scored on a fielder’s choice by Ty Watson to make it 4-2, but Caden Monticelli escaped any more damage with a punch out.

“We were playing really good defense in the first five innings, but then the wheels fell off for us in the sixth,” Andrisko said. “I don’t think the ball left the infield. They were able to load the bases up and get two runs across. But to our guys’ credit, we kept our composure and got out of a disjointed inning.”

Despite a rocky top of the sixth, the Trojans rebounded and added three more runs to give themselves a nice cushion. Lawson came through with a two-run double, and then scored off an RBI single by Cicchitto.

“We had the right guys up in the bottom of the sixth and got that immediate response after allowing those two runs,” Andrisko said. “Our kids are scrappers at the plate and I thought we put a lot of good at-bats together.”

Caden Monticelli tallied his final strikeout in the top of the seventh and was pulled due to his pitch count. Weston Monticelli worked around a walk and a single to close out the game with a pair of strikeouts for Cal.

Both teams will meet today at Bentworth. First pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m.

“As a team, our motto is to always apply pressure,” Andrisko said. “Our lineup has been solid, and I have been really impressed with the bottom of our lineup these last couple of games. They have been able to work some counts and extends some innings for us. We want to cut down on our strikeouts and let the defense make a play. These guys are relishing those moments and playing winning baseball.”