The Liberty High School baseball team, behind a stout performance from pitcher Martin Naranjo and a collective offensive effort, handily defeated league foe Heritage 8-1 on Friday afternoon.
The game started off as a pitcher’s duel and remained that way for a majority of the opening innings. Naranjo and Wade Johnson took the mound for the Bison and Patriots, and both were fire in the first four innings.
After a first inning in which both teams registered a hit but could not bring the runner home, both pitchers started to deal. Strikeouts were being dealt left and right from both pitchers as neither offense could muster anything.
Finally in the fourth inning, the Bison got to Johnson. Following a strikeout to start the bottom half of the fourth, Nate Wellen stepped up to the plate and blasted a deep home run to center field to break the deadlock and ignite the Liberty fans in attendance. Johnson walked the next batter, but got out of the inning with no more damage dealt.
After another scoreless top half of the fifth from Naranjo and the Bison defense, they blew the game open in the bottom half of the inning. Colton Aleman got it started with a single to right field and was then pinch run for. A walk and a stolen base set the Bison up with two runners in scoring position, with Dylan Oltjenbruns stepping up to the plate. He blasted a double to knock in both runners, extending Liberty’s lead to 3.
Looking to minimize the damage, Heritage subbed in Brennon Hendricks to pitch. Unfortunately for the Patriots, a hit by pitch followed by a bunt single set the Bison up with the bases loaded and still no outs. A double play ball was exactly what the Patriots needed, and they got the ground ball. They could only get the force out at second, though, plating another run for the Bison and leaving them with runners on the corners and only one out.
Brandon Ansell stepped up to the plate and ripped a two-run double, extending the Bison lead to 6-0. Hendricks eventually got out of the inning with no more runs allowed, but the damage was already done.
After the game, Coach Scott Montgomery commented on his team’s offensive outburst following a slow start.
“We’ve been working really hard on having quality at-bats,” he said. “In the fourth, Nate Wellen had a big home run that allowed the rest of the offense to settle in and have more quality at-bats to open up things in the fifth.
“I think every game these guys play together gets them a little more comfortable competing at the varsity level. We have a lot of new faces compared to last season, so these guys are figuring out how to gel and to compete together.”
Oltjenbruns finished the game 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs, while Wellen finished the game 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs as well. Matthew Schaeffer and Alex Arteaga both had great games as well, finishing with two hits each.
From that point on, Liberty’s pitching continued to deal. Naranjo exited the game after pitching 5 innings of scoreless baseball with 9 strikeouts. David Kirk came in to relieve and picked up right where Naranjo left off. He finished the last two innings of the game allowing only one run and striking out two as the Liberty bats added yet another two runs to cement their win.
“Our pitching staff has been really solid for us this year, and Naranjo threw really well for us today to give us a great opportunity to win,” said Montgomery.
Liberty (2-4) is next in action at home next Wednesday against league opponent Paloma Valley, and Heritage (4-7) takes the field again next Wednesday as well in a league match at Arlington.
