Head coach John Acha's varsity baseball team from Pitman might have finished their spring tournament with a losing record, but to them it was more than just the wins and losses—it’s about bonding.
To Acha, the tournament provided his team with a broader perspective and the opportunity to come closer as a team, which is why he keeps coming back year after year.
“I like doing it for the kids and just a team thing,” said Acha. “Fun for them, high school baseball is about making memories on and off the field and some of the kids have not been out this way and outside of baseball they got to hang out and get to know each other and just a fun thing for them.”
The fun began on Tuesday night when the team arrived at SLO and was able to check out where the Cal Poly Mustangs baseball team competes.
The team finished with a 1-3 official record at the San Luis Obispo Spring tournament that began on Wednesday and concluded on Friday.
“Record wise not so great but overall we had a good trip and had a chance for some guys to prove themselves and shine and get back into it and get at bats so it was all positives,” said Acha.
Pitman started off by defeating St. Joseph's, 3-2, on Wednesday after Brett Hagen and Ben Lascano combined for seven innings and allowed just two unearned runs on five hits, while striking out five.
The Pride then took on Moreau Catholic and lost 9-6 after the team committed three errors and only strung together six hits for the game.
Pitman then met the No. 76 team in the state, Oaks Christian out of Westlake Village, on Thursday afternoon.
The Pride went up by three runs after the first and felt comfortable that they could hang with the team, that is, before OC picked up the pace.
OC went on to outscore Pitman 8-1, from the second to the fourth inning, holding on for the win.
Pitman met Mission Prep of SLO on Friday for their fourth and final game of the tourney but again, unfortunately the bats didn't go their way.
It was another quick start for the Pride who went up 6-2 after the top of the third, followed by a 6-4 lead heading into the fourth.
MP tacked on six unanswered runs in the fourth and fifth innings to give the Pride their third consecutive loss after a 10-6 final.
“We started off strong and we were up, it was a day to get other pitchers who have not gotten in to get work in and faced some struggles unfortunately,” said Acha.
The next game for Pitman will be on the road at Merced at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
