Dubs Find Payback at Providence

By Brandon Petersen

A year ago, the Providence Christian series marked the low point in a season the Westcliff baseball team struggled through emotionally.

Outscored 28-8 in three at Amerige Park, tempers finally boiled over for the Warriors in Fullerton, and the series would long be remembered as rough, to put it politely. 

So this weekend's series against the Beggars of the Sea provided a unique opportunity for a little payback.

A chance to return the favor.

How sweet it is. 

Friday at Providence, the Warriors put it on the Sea Beggars, 8-1.

Scoring in the second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth, Westcliff out-hit Providence, 15-4, to quickly erase any doubt that 2023 would be anything like 2022. 

With the bases juiced in the top of the second, Zane Parmenter got the party started with a single that brought in Nolan Wasson. 

Eddie Rivero scored on a Daniel Esqueda knock in the third, and Parmenter scored in the fourth on a Robby Wheeler single. 

Rivero then brought Wheeler around on a single of his own as the Warriors small-balled Providence to the tune of 4-0.

Another Wheeler single in the sixth scored Keith Hale, and Caleb Castanchoa hit a clutch, two-out single in the seventh to score Wasson.

Wasson worked his way on with a two-out walk then stole second to set up Castanchoa. 

The duo doubled the act in the top of the ninth when Wasson walked to lead off and Castanchoa hit him to third with a double. 

Evan Rocha cleaned up from there, hitting them both home to make it 8-1. 

Eddie Rios got the start and worked a perfect pair, striking out two.

From there, Kyle Douphner took over and was fantastic. 

The towering right-hander tossed seven full, allowing nothing earned on four scattered, while striking out six.

Parmenter went 2-for-2 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored. 

Wasson finished 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, a stolen base and three runs scored.  

Wheeler went 2-for-4 with two batted in and a run scored.

Quinton Knight ran for Wheeler and picked up a pair of stolen bases. 

Rivero was 2-for-4 with a walk, two stolen bases, two batted in and a run scored.

Castanchoa had a nice 2-for-5 day from DH, with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

Rocha finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with a walk and two batted in. 

Ray Moore Jr, Hale and Esqueda all had one hit each. 

Westcliff (7-8) and Providence will finish the series tomorrow at Vanguard. 

Keaton Slack will take the hill in the first game, and Desi Garcia is slated to start the nightcap.

The doubleheader starts at 11 a.m.