The Warriors are off and gunnin’
By Kyle Jorrey
jorrey@theacorn.com

STRONG START-Westlake pitcher Nick Slezak prepares to throw the batter a breaking ball during a game earlier in the season. With the help of consistent pitching and timely hitting, the Warriors are off to an unexpected 3-0 start in Marmonte, good enough to be alone in first place.

Yes, it’s still early, but it’d be difficult to blame the fans of the Westlake baseball team for being cautiously excited about their squad’s performance up to this point.

After all, the Warriors are 6-3, and more importantly, 3-0 in league, making Westlake the only team left in Marmonte without a blemish in the loss column. The boys in blue are winning with two of baseball’s most important staples—good pitching and timely hitting—and head coach Josh Eby hopes his team can carry this early momentum into next week’s schedule of critical league games against Newbury Park (Wednesday) and Agoura (Friday).

"We have a long season, but I can say we’re very excited with the way we started," Eby said. "But with 11 league games left, anything can happen."

This week the Warriors are competing in the Bishop Mitty West Coast Classic, a three-day, 16 team event consisting of top-rated programs from California, Nevada and Utah. Westlake lost its opening round game to Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland, 6-1.

Eby said he considers the West Coast Classic, an invitation-only tournament, one of the premier baseball events on the West Coast.

"We feel this is one of the top tournaments in the state of California," the third-year head coach said. "We come up here for a reason—to test ourselves, and hopefully, get ready for a playoff run."

While wins and losses are not his primary concern at an event like this one, Eby hopes the Warriors can come away with at least a couple victories to help expand on what they’ve accomplished thus far in league.

"We don’t want to leave here 0-4," Eby said. "We need to build upon what we’ve accomplished and not take a step back. Our guys have shown that when they play against better teams, they can rise to the level of the competition. We hope that’s what is going to happen here."

The foundation of the Warrior success so far has been the work of senior starting pitchers Travis Turek (3-1) and Joe Raleigh (3-0). Both have an ERA under three, and both have two big early season victories over tough competition. Turek, a complete-game two-hitter in a 3-1 win over Thousand Oaks, and Raleigh, a shutout in a 4-0 victory over Royal, the Highlanders’ (11-1) lone loss on the season.

"They’re pitching excellent in every single out outing, and they’re giving us a lot of innings," Eby said. "Sometimes they’ve simply been overpowering . . . When we get the lead, they are taking control for us.

And on a not-so-deep pitching staff, Turek and Raleigh have been up to the task to go the distance. Each has two complete games on the season.

"That’s huge for us," Eby said. "They’re keeping the pitch count down and allowing themselves to do that."

It’s doubtful that the two pitchers would have the records they have without the help they’ve been getting from the Warrior bats—especially senior Jordan Ott, who collected three home runs on his first five hits of the season. His two solo shots carried Westlake in its victory over T.O.

"From game to game, it’s been different guys stepping up, but our offensive leader has definitely been Jordan," Eby said. "And it’s not a surprise to me. I always thought Jordan was a guy with huge potential, it’s just a matter of playing up to that potential, and so far, he is. He’s hitting in the three-hole and he’s playing with a lot of confidence and a real desire to win."

Batters such as Eric Morrison, Andrew Doupe and Dustin Moore have also contributed with support when it was needed.

"We haven’t been hitting the cover off the ball, but we get hits when we need them," Eby said.

Though most of the early season attention went to ballclubs like Agoura, Royal and Simi, the Warriors are quietly and confidently getting the job done. Eby just hopes his team can maintain its steady play through the West Coast Classic and into the rigors of an always arduous Marmonte League schedule.

But at least they can say they’re off on the right foot.

"I think we’re a little bit of a surprise, just because we know how deep the competition in our league is," Eby said. "Of course there’s still room for improvement in our ballclub, but we’re happy with what we’ve seen so far. We just have to keep focused and keep playing as a team . . . There’s no easy wins in this league. You either show up to play every day or you’ll come home with a loss. Guaranteed."