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WEEK IN REVIEW 3/15
TOUGH WEEK FOR THE POKES AS THEY DROP BOTH GAMES
Livermore traveled to Dougherty Valley to play their first EBAL game and were greeted with brutally tough conditions at their field. The infield was long and the wind was howling straight in at about 30+MPH. Livermore had one of their best days at the plate in terms of "squaring balls up" but the wind and the infield made it very tough to get a hit. Mateo Bullis and AJ Cook each hit balls that would have easily been home runs at Livermore but just died in the wind. Tanner Lee managed two hits with one being a great bunt single. Livermore scratched out their only run on a delay steal on a 1st and 3rd lay in the first inning. The Wildcats held the Pokes to the one run and won 3-1.
The second game of the week against SRV was the polar opposite of Wednesday. It was an old school Wild West Shootout. The Pokes scored seven runs with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the first inning to take a 7-0 lead into the second. San Ramon was not missing many balls at the plate but the Livermore defense was ready turning four double plays during the game. The Wolves clawed back into the game and eventually took a 9-7 lead into the sixth. Livermore tied it up with a 2RBI single by Mateo Bullis in the bottom of the 6th. Nik Mirra held the Wolves scoreless in the 7th setting the stage for the "almost walk-off." AJ Cook led off with a walk and was sacrificed to 2B by Blake Bystrom. After an intentional walk to Braeden McRae, Hayden Druba hit a scorching line drive down the left field line that was foul by 4". SRV eventually got out of the inning and went on to win in the 8th.
WEEK IN REVIEW 3/8
POKES SUFFER FIRST LOSS OF THE YEAR AFTER BEATING MOUNTAIN HOUSE
Livermore made easy work of Mountain House by beating them 11-2. It was a very basic/working man's win for the Pokes. Ryan Kohn and Alex Martinez were brilliant on the bump holding MH to three hits and two unearned runs. They struck out seven along the way. Tanner Lee, Braden Ford and Nico Rodriguez all collected two hits for Livermore while Andrew Arante had two RBIs and Ford had three RBIs. Livermore went up 4-0 in the second inning and never looked back.
The bats were not as lucky on Friday against Washington. The Huskies pitcher handled the Pokes and limited them to four singles on the day: Nico Rodriguez, AJ Cook, Hayden Maas and Tanner Lee. Livermore's only run came on a bases loaded walk in the 7th by Andrew Arante. The Pokes left the bases loaded in the 7th to end the game. Livermore's pitching was outstanding on the day: CJ Johnston went six innings, striking out five and walking none. Josh Rodriguez threw one inning and struck out one. He also did not walk anyone.
WEEK IN REVIEW 3/1
LIVERMORE BEATS PETALUMA; GETS RAINED OUT AGAINST SAN MARIN
The Pokes traveled north to play a tough Petaluma team and came away with a hard fought 3-2 victory in a playoff-type atmosphere. Livermore got out early with a 2-0 lead led by Braden Ford's RBI single and Zach Bickerton's RBI ground out. Petaluma got one back on a home run, but the Pokes answered with Ford's second RBI of the game with an HBP with the bases loaded. Livermore was stout on the mound as CJ Johnston went 4 1/3 scoreless innings and Josh Rodriguez closed out the final 2 2/3 striking out three and walking none. Rodriguez had a huge moment on the mound after coming into the game in the 5th with 1st and 2nd and one out. He hit the first batter he faced with his first pitch to load the bases. He then composed himself and struck out the next two guys to end the threat! Livermore is now 4-0 with having won three 1-run games. The make-up game with San Marin is TBA.
WEEK IN REVIEW 2/23
POKES RUN THEIR RECORD TO 3-0 WITH WINS OVER NEWARK AND MISSION SAN JOSE
Livermore had a good D2 test against Newark as they had two very good pitchers, but the Pokes found a way to win. After going up 3-0 early, Newark battled back and made their only two hits against CJ Johnston count. Johnston threw a great 5 innings to give the Pokes a chance to win. After Newark threatened to score in the 7th to win it, the teams traded a scoreless 8th inning. Jaden Vassallo led of the 9th with a single and was bunted over to 2nd by Tanner Lee. One batter later, Vassallo stole 3rd and Newark threw it away to score the go-ahead run. Braden Ford closed out the 9th for the win. Ford threw three scoreless innings to pick up his first Varsity win.
Friday saw the Pokes man handle the Mission San Jose Warriors 19-0. Everyone got into the action on the mound and at the plate. Josh Rodriguez, Nik Mirra, Alex Martinez and Andrew Arante held the Warriors to two hits and zero runs. The offense was in high gear too, as CJ Johnston and Zach Bickerton both hit towering home runs to lead the charge.
WEEK IN REVIEW 2/16
POKES ESCAPE WITH OPENING DAY WIN IN THEIR ONLY GAME OF WEEK
The Livermore bats came to play on opening day, especially Tanner Lee, who went 3-4 with three doubles and four RBI. The pitching staff struggled to find the zone against the Vikings of Irvington but when they did, there was not much contact as they struck out 11 Vikings' batters (in only 6 innings because the game was called because of darkness). The Pokes found themselves in a 6-0 and 7-1 hole but battled back behind the offensive outburst from Lee. His bases loaded double that scored all three got the game tied and eventually led to a 9-8 win.
UPGRADES TO THE YARD
MANY PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED WHILE OTHERS STILL BEING DONE
Pokes Baseball is always looking to upgrade the yard and facilities and this year is no different. There have been many major projects in the past: re-sodded the infield grass four times since 2001, new dugouts in 2005, new brick backstop and raised seating area in 2007, new batting cages in 2008, new home run fencing in 2008, sponsored brick wall in 2009, Wall of Fame and box seating in 2010, trees planted in outfield in 2011, new scoreboard in 2017, remodeled clubhouse in 2017, new home and visitor's bullpens in 2020 and a new mower to create patterns in the outfield in 2022. This year also saw quite a few changes to the yard:
NEW SIDING/REMODELED HOME DUGOUT AND WALL OF FAME: New siding, new paint, new plaques and signs for the Wall of Fame and back of the dugout. New custom benches are coming for both dugouts.
TURF ON PARTS OF FIELD: Artificial turf will be installed on the baselines and behind home plate
NEW BATTING CAGE NETS: Brand new nets in all the cages with new hitting mats coming in the spring
2024 SCHEDULE HAS BEEN FINALIZED
THE POKES WILL TAKE ON SOME NEW OPPONENTS THIS SPRING
Livermore is always searching for D2 opponents in the preseason to build their "playoff resume" since we are the only D2 school in EBAL. The Pokes play many of the same teams every year but have a few new ones on the list this season. Their non-league schedule will consist of the following teams: Irvington, Newark, Mission San Jose, Petaluma, San Marin, Mountain House, Washington and Kimball. EBAL is the same format with Livermore playing the Valley teams twice: Dublin, Amador Valley, Foothill and Granada. The Pokes then play the other half once: Dougherty Valley, Cal, Monte Vista, San Ramon Valley and De La Salle. Livermore will host the Service Champions Classic with Foothill again and it is a very good tournament again this year: Livermore, Foothill, Northgate, San Marin, Redwood, Heritage, College Park and Santa Rosa. The Pokes will open up with Santa Rosa.
2024 Varsity Baseball Schedule