Last Series Recaps - Behind a dominating start from Justice Yamashita, the Saints led 1-0 heading into the fifth inning. However, the Saints were unable to quiet the bats of Puget Sound longer, allowing seven runs in the final five frames, falling on Friday afternoon.
Saint Martin's (0-5) lone run of the game came in the top of the fourth as Mark Steward scored on a passed ball. Steward reached base on a single to short, before Griffin Williams followed with a single down the right field line to put runners on the corners. The Saints took advantage of the miscue and took the early lead.
Yamashita (0-2) looked to be in full control of the game, going for nine strikeouts over five innings. He began the day with two punchouts in the first, one in the second, and two more in the third. Yamashita followed with another two in the fourth, before Puget Sound finally managed to put a run on him in the fifth.
Puget Sound took the lead in the fifth on a dropped third strike, and an RBI infield single. The Loggers added to their lead in the seventh with another two runs, and capped it off with a three run eighth inning.
Williams ended the day with two of the Saints' three hits, with Steward collected the third, and reaching base twice on walks.
Kameron Richards pitched 1.1 innings allowing two runs, before Ryan Driscoll closed the inning with one strikeout. Colin Driscoll and Ryan Ancheta combined to pitch the eighth and final inning.
The Saints' bats erupted in the opening game of a doubleheader against local foe Pacific Lutheran, winning 15-3, before falling in the second billing 8-5 on Saturday.
It didn't take long for the Saints (1-6) to get the offense going against the pitching off the Lutes as Hunter Kosmider drove in the first three runs in the second inning on a bases-clearing triple. Ryne Oshiro and Aaron Renaud added on with RBIs of their own to make it a 5-0 ball game.
The two struck again in the fourth with Oshiro going for another RBI double, and Renaud connecting on his second home run of the season, a two run shot to center.
Bryant Nakagawa drove in one in the fifth, and Reid Little put the Saints up 10 with his two run home run in the ninth. However, it wasn't over yet as the Saints loaded the bases for Michael Yamaguchi. The sophomore hit his career grand slam, and his second career home run as the Saints coasted to the 15-3 win.
Cole Hatton (1-1) got the start, going five innings, allowing only one run, and striking out two. Troy McCormick picked up the rare four inning save after allowing two runs, and punching out another two.
Pacific Lutheran managed to quell the Saints' offense until the fifth inning of the second game, holding a 3-0 lead at that point. Jonathan Shimaburkuro broke the shutout with a home run down the right field line, driving in Cody Isa and putting the Saints within one.
After PLU added three in the fifth, the Saints started chipping away once again. Kosmider capitalized on a wild pitch in the seventh, and Cody Chavis, and Shimaburkuro drove in two in the eighth. However, the comeback narrowly fell short as the Saints fell 8-5.
Sam McCauley got the start, going four innings, followed by Zach Alcos with two, Aaron Nease, and Brock Wrolstad each throwing one.
Behind a nearly lights out start from Finnley Butler, Saint Martin's knocked off Puget Sound in their home opener, 5-3, on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Saint Martin's (2-6) jumped on the Loggers (3-4) in the bottom of the first, scoring a run on a throwing error by UPS. SMU added to their lead in the third inning when Chayson Dulatre ripped a single down the left field line, scoring both Cody Chavis, and Aaron Renaud.
It wasn't until the fifth inning that Puget Sound managed to get through Butler, as the Loggers connected for a solo blast to right center to break the shutout.
Saint Martin's answered right back in the bottom half of the fifth, scoring on a suicide bunt from Chavis, bringing in Mark Steward. The final run of the game for the Saints came in the sixth on a sac fly from Hunter Kosmider, scoring Steward again.
Puget Sound managed to give the Saints a scare in the ninth, scoring two runs but the rally was cut short on a game-ending groundout to short.
Butler (1-0) went five innings, allowing only the one lone run on three hits, with three strikeouts. Ryan Driscoll pitched two shutout innings out of the pen, followed by DJ Akiyama closing the game and the final two innings.
Saints' Baseball Voted 5th In GNAC Preseason Poll - With a core of their bats returning in 2022, along with a pitching staff eager to prove itself, the Saints were selected fifth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll on Friday.
Earning four of the five first place votes, Northwest Nazarene was selected as the preseason favorite with 24 points. Western Oregon followed up in second with 19 points, then Central Washington with one first place vote at 15. Montana State Billings, and Saint Martin's rounded out the poll with 10 and seven points respectively.
The Saints will be led by All-Conference bats Aaron Renaud, catchers Bryant Nakagawa and Mark Steward, and outfielder Cody Chavis. Renaud, an honorable mention led the offense with seven home runs, and 17 RBIs with a .315 batting average. In 37 games, Renaud slugged .597 along with a .399 on-base percentage and scored 23 runs.
Nakagawa earned a second team All-Conference selection after collecting a .460 on-base percentage in 23 games. However, Nakagawa proved to be lethal at throwing out would be baserunners, catching eight of 13 attempts. Also, he posted his second straight perfect fielding percentage season, with 65 putouts, and 12 assists.
Freshman catcher/designated hitter Mark Steward quickly made an impact, leading the Saints in batting average at .383, along with two home runs, and 12 RBIs. Steward slugged .521 along with a remarkable .448 on-base percentage.
Centerfielder Cody Chavis was named honorable mention with his .272 season along with one home run, and 15 RBIs. Chavis started all 38 games he saw action in, and managed seven doubles, two triples, and 20 runs scored.
Saint Martin's must replace all-time strikeout leader Tanner Inouye, who was named to three GNAC All-Conference teams in his career. All-Conference honorable mention Zach Alcos looks to lead the young but talented Saints' staff. In nine games, making four starts, Alcos recorded 22 strikeouts in 27 innings along with a 5.33 ERA.
The Saints return five of the top six pitchers who recorded the most innings last season. Cole Hatton was second on the team with 44 innings pitched, along with lefty Ryan Ancheta at 34 innings of work. Finnley Butler posted the team's lowest ERA at 5.29 in 32.1 innings. Justice Yamashita and Troy McCormick also look to step up on the mound with a combined 51 innings of work last season.
Other notable returners in 2022 include infielders Ryne Oshiro, Ty Matsunami, and Braeden McNally, along with outfielders Austin Schaler, Griffin Williams, and Reid Little. Utility players like Dakota Hill, Cody Isa, and Hunter Kosmider provide depth for the Saints.
Saint Martin's welcomes eight new players to the roster in 2022 including senior transfer Brock Wrolstad from Missouri Western State, and sophomore transfer Jonathan Shimabukuro from Edmonds CC. The Saints feature six freshmen on the roster in Colin Driscoll from West Linn, Oregon, DJ Akiyama from Aiea, Hawaii, and Hunter Sasaki from Mililani, Hawaii. Along with Kameron Richards from Lacey, Washington, Aaron Nease from Salem, Oregon, and Sam McCauley from Baker City, Oregon.
