Connor Shaw (12) pitched a complete game and shortstop Joseph Arango-Manley (10) drove in all four runs in the Wolverines 4-2 win over San Pedro, March 27.
“This was my first ever time throwing a complete game and it was the most strikeouts I have ever had in a game,” Shaw said. “This was one of my best pitching performances in my four years being at Westview.”
Shaw credits his success to his consistency.
“I always try to create a routine for myself to follow that I can implement for myself before games so that I can feel my best and allow myself to give it my all,” Shaw said.
Before the game, Arango-Manley said that to maintain their consistency, he and the rest of the team made sure to stick to their routine pregame warmups.
The Wolverines started the season 4-7 and in anticipation of the game against San Pedro, Shaw heard that the Pirates would be a tough opponent.
In the second inning, the Wolverines’ first rally began with two outs and Eli Irvine (9) up to bat. Irvine hit an outfield single to get on base for Mahir Desai (11), who followed. During Desai’s at-bat, Irvine saw the pitcher turn his head so he stole second with two outs. Desai walked to put two runners on base for Arango-Manley, who was up to bat with runners on first and second and two outs.
“I was just trying to get on base for the next hitter to get us home,” Arango-Manley said. “Making sure the line keeps moving to score.”
With a 1-1 count, Arango-Manley was able to hit the ball just over the infielders, and Irvine was off to the races, trying to beat the outfielder’s throw home. Irvine barely beat the throw to put the Wolverines up 1-0.
Meanwhile, Shaw battled on the mound, keeping the Pirates hitless and racking up three strikeouts in the first two innings to preserve the Wolverine lead.
To start the bottom of the fourth, Freddy Chien (12) started the inning with a single before Irvine’s single advanced Chien to second.
Then, Desai walked again to load the bases with no outs and Arango-Manley up to bat. Arango-Manley drove a fly ball to the right-center field gap to drive in two and increase the lead to 3-0. Shaw kept the San Pedro bats quiet until the sixth inning. After the first out in the sixth, Shaw allowed two singles, which put runners on first and second. A fielder’s choice moved the runners to second and third. Shaw walked the batter to load the bases with two outs. Shaw allowed a two RBI single to narrow the Wolverine lead to 3-2.
Even still in a jam, Shaw persevered and struck the last batter out to end the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth Irvine, Desai, and Arango-Manley were due up again. Irvine knocked his third hit of the game before Desai was able to advance him with a bunt that put Irvine in scoring position. With Arango-Manley up, Irvine advanced to third on a wild pitch. Then, an Arango-Manley sacrifice fly to center drove Irvine in for the team’s fourth run and Arango-Manley’s fourth RBI.
Shaw closed the game out with a scoreless top of the 7th to seal his first complete game.
