Gades baseball earns first victory of young season

Justin White, Sports Editor

On a floodlit Gerry Collis Field underneath a moonless, starless Bakersfield night sky, the Renegades secured their first victory of the young season against Taft College last Friday, winning the game 6-3.

The Gades opened up the scoring in the 2nd inning when catcher Miguel Castillo doubled to bring home third baseman Andrew Townson. A BC error in the 4th allowed Taft College to tie the game, but the Renegades would knock in three more runs in the 5th with a Jarrett Brannen RBI, a fielder’s choice that allowed centerfielder Jacob Baker to score, and a bases loaded walk by designated hitter Xabi Iparraguirre. Taft would score two more runs to make the game close again in the top of the 6th, but later that same inning a Baker sac fly and a Jose Ruiz double to bring home Brannen would restore the Gades three-run lead, and the Gades pitching didn’t waver again as reliever Dylan Pavletich allowed just three runners and no runs to collect a 3-inning save. Pitcher Kyle Langston recorded the win and a quality start, giving up three runs, one unearned, on four hits and four walks while striking out four batters through six innings.

The next day, the Renegades got revenge on Moorpark College by beating them 5-4, and so the next game for the Renegades will take place on Feb. 3, as they begin the first of three straight games against El Camino College at Gerry Collis Field.