ROUNDUP: Newly aggressive at plate, Desert Oasis swats Silverado
Desert Oasis’ baseball team struggled to get timely hitting while losing its first four games.
Since then, the Diamondbacks can’t seem to do anything wrong at the plate.
Desert Oasis scored seven runs in the third inning on its way to a 10-5 victory at Silverado on Saturday.
The Diamondbacks have pushed across 76 runs in their past six games to square their record at 5-5.
“We’re being a little more aggressive at the plate now,” said junior designated hitter Joe Paratore, who went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. “Before, we were just taking pitches, trying to get walks, but we’re definitely trying to be more aggressive. Those first-pitch fastballs, we’re getting a hold of them and just driving the ball.”
The only loss for Desert Oasis in the past week was an 8-7 defeat at Bishop Gorman, which has won five straight Class 4A state titles.
“Last week we took a lot of pitches, a lot of fastballs for strikes,” Diamondbacks coach Mike Besser said. “This week, we started attacking the baseball a little bit more and not sitting back.”
Desert Oasis sent 11 batters to the plate in the third inning, keyed by Paratore’s three-run double through the left side. Three batters later, Riley Smith singled home Paratore and Zane Killebrew for a 6-5 lead, and the Diamondbacks never lost momentum.
Sophomore right-hander Barry Lasseigne went the distance for the win after weathering a rough start.
He allowed five runs on six hits in the first two innings, but only two hits in the next five.
“I’m very proud of (Lasseigne),” Paratore said. “He came in, settled down, got some ground balls, and we were getting the job done for him.”
Smith was 3-for-4 with two RBIs for Desert Oasis. For Silverado, Wyatt Reid had an RBI triple and an RBI double, and Josh Bravin went 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Earlier Saturday, Silverado defeated Highland (Calif.) 6-2, with sophomore Hunter Welch pitching a three-hitter in his first varsity start.
“He threw a lot of strikes early in the count. We’re pleased to see him show well in his first varsity game,” Skyhawks coach Brian Whitaker said.
Dylan Cross went 3-for-3 with an RBI for Silverado, and Luc Balestracci was 2-for-3 with two runs.
Shadow Ridge 12, Eldorado 11 — At Eldorado, Brandon Show’s RBI double in the top of the seventh gave the Mustangs the win.
Joey Liuzza was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Michael Wager was 2-for-4 with an RBI for Shadow Ridge.
Lucio Arreola went 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs for Eldorado, end Eric Larsen added a home run for the Sundevils.
Cheyenne 16, Desert Pines 14 — At Cheyenne, Jerraco Lindsey went 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple and six RBIs to help the Desert Shields outslug the Jaguars.
Brian Corder was 2-for-4 for Cheyenne.
Roberto Hernandez went 3-for-3 with four RBIs to lead Desert Pines.
Foothill 6, Boulder City 1 — At Foothill, Jansen Neff blasted a three-run home run as part of a four-run fifth inning to help the Falcons beat the Eagles.
Gabby Soto went 2-for-3, including a solo homer, for the Falcons.
Foothill’s Dayton Kurian threw five shutout innings with six strikeouts to earn the win.
Rock Canyon (Colo.) 14, Durango 13 — At Durango, Scott Martinez was 3-for-4 with five RBIs, but the Trailblazers’ rally came up short.
Martinez, who also had a double, hit grand slam to highlight a five-run seventh for Durango, but the Trailblazers left the potential tying run on first.
Jacob Dismont was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for Durango, which allowed five runs in the top of the seventh.
