COMPTON, Calif. – The Orange County Riptide powered their way to a 16-9 victory over the Academy Barons on Thursday evening, bringing their record to .500 in the California Collegiate League. The game featured a strong offensive performance from the Riptide, which head coach Connor Spencer praised, saying, “I’m proud of the offense for finally being explosive.”
The Riptide’s offense got going in the second inning. After a quiet first inning from both teams, Anthony Marnell drew a walk. Jackson Kemmerer followed with a double, moving Marnell to third. Michael Diaz then hit a two-run RBI, bringing both Marnell and Kemmerer home and putting the Riptide ahead 2-0.
In the third inning, the Riptide’s bats stayed hot. Patrick Hacksworth started with a single, followed by Jake Brown’s double. With the bases loaded after Ace Reese drew a walk, Rocco Gump hit a sacrifice fly, allowing Hacksworth to score. Luke Johnson then hit a home run, driving in Reese and Brown to extend the lead to 6-0.
The fourth inning saw Jackson Kemmerer walking and stealing second base. Diaz walked but was caught stealing third. Hacksworth hit a sacrifice fly to bring Kemmerer home, pushing the lead to 7-0. However, the Barons answered back in the bottom of the fourth, putting four runs on the board and closing the gap to 7-4.
The fifth inning was uneventful, but the Riptide’s offense exploded again in the sixth inning. Marnell walked, and Kemmerer was hit by a pitch. Diaz doubled, bringing both runners home. Hackworth followed with a line drive, scoring Diaz. Jake Brown reached base on an error, and Nathan Cadena hit a single to send Hackworth home. Gump’s single RBI brought Brown and Cadena home, and Johnson finished the inning with his second home run of the game, a two-run shot that also scored Gump, making it 15-4.
Defensive errors hurt the Riptide in the bottom of the seventh, allowing the Barons to score five runs and cut the lead to 15-9. Despite this, the Riptide’s pitching staff managed to hold off the Barons in the final innings. The eighth inning was quiet for both teams, but in the ninth inning, Brenden Wilkinson took advantage of a defensive error to steal home, bringing the final score to 16-9.
Coach Spencer emphasized the importance of consistency moving forward, saying, “Moving forward we’ve got to strive to be consistent, and the moment we do we’re going to put together some competitive ball games.” He also pointed out “consistency on the mound” and “shakiness on defense” as areas needing improvement.
The Riptide’s victory was powered by standout performances across the lineup, with big contributions from Diaz, Johnson, and Gump. The team’s ability to take advantage of scoring chances and keep the pressure on was key to their success. Spencer reflected on the game, saying, “I think we put some good swings on balls today,” highlighting the team’s offensive turnaround.
With this win, the Riptide look to build on their momentum as they continue their season in the California Collegiate League. The team will next face the Conejo Oaks, aiming to further improve their standing and continue their push towards a successful season.
