On a cold and rainy day more suited for football, Millikan baseball shined. Just an hour before Saturday’s scheduled start of Millikan vs. Downey in the second game of the Loara Tournament, it was pouring rain at Downey High School. Both teams were waiting and hoping to get this game in. Thanks to a good grounds crew at Downey, and a little help from mother nature, the field survived and the game started on time. 

Millikan struck first when Avery Flores singled to right. Flores advanced to 2nd on a passed ball and then to 3rd on a groundout.  With 2 out and Flores on 3rd, Adam Anella laced a 2-0 pitch to right-center field, to score Flores. Downey came back in their half of the third to tie the score 1-1.

Millikan scored again in the 4th to pull ahead 2-1. Matt Clampitt walked to start the inning and advanced to 3rd on back-to-back singles by Jordan Ybarra and Jack Woodbury. Clampitt scored on a bases loaded double play to put Millikan ahead 2-1.  Downey took advantage of a couple Millikan miscues to tie the score in the bottom of the 5th.

In the top of the 6th, with the score tied 2-2 and one out, Sophomore DH Jordan Ybarra stepped up to the plate. Ybarra showed patience at the plate in his previous at bat working a 3-2 count before getting a hit. This time Ybarra again showed good plate discipline and worked the count to 3-1 before driving a pitch over the left-center field wall for a home run. This put Millikan ahead for good, as Clampitt finished out the final two innings for the complete-game win. Final score - Millikan Rams 3, Downey Vikings 2.

Millikan’s starter Matt Clampitt was sharp throughout the game, keeping Downey hitters off balance with a good fastball and a breaking ball with a lot of movement on it.  Clampitt recorded 5 strikeouts while giving up just 5 hits and walking one. His catcher Josh Valdovinos was just as good behind the plate, keeping Clampitt in rhythm and Downey baserunners close.

Rams defense was also instrumental in this close win, recording several key outs on a cold rainy day where one misplayed ball could have been the difference in the outcome of the game. Credit goes out to Downey High School for a great defensive performance and well-played game as well.

This was the second close game one-run win for the Rams in as many games. It’s early, but the Rams are 2-0 and have shown that they can win low-scoring close games, a good sign.