One week from today, the practice jerseys will be stored away as the regular season gets underway. We are nearing the final scrimmages before everything begins to count. Whether the team is fully prepared remains uncertain. The position players have finally shaken off some rust and are starting to make solid contact with the ball. The concern is the pitching, which has shown signs of decline, and the weekend rotation remains a topic of discussion, except for AJ Ciscar, who is still a strong candidate for Friday nights. Tate DeRias has taken a step back as hitters have adjusted to his pitching, which has affected his stats, as seen in the first inning tonight. Middle relievers are still struggling to find their rhythm against batters. Defensively, additional work is needed; communication among players is lacking, leading to routine outs being missed. One area that stood out was the efficiency of bunt execution. Last year, this wasn’t part of the strategy, but it seems JD is now emphasizing it, and the players are responding positively. Today’s focus was on improving communication and leadership, as evidenced by the successful bunts.
AJ Ciscar and Tate DeRias, our scheduled starters for Friday and Saturday, received the initial call and were set to pitch the first five innings, with the fifth inning starting with a runner on second base. Tate took the mound first today but faced immediate challenges with the opening batters. An early error in left field, due to miscommunication as the LF did not call off the infielders charging for the ball, allowed the ball to drop and set a difficult tone for the inning. DeGoti, on second base instead of returning to the dugout after what should have been a routine out, evolved into a costly mistake. This was the first of two errors in the inning, leading to three runs—highlighted by Max Galvin’s single after DeGoti’s error, and Daniel Cuvet’s first preseason home run, which scored three runs. Cian Copeland nearly added to the score but was caught on the warning track in right-center. The second error was on a grounder to third by Jackson Hugus, with a throw into the dirt that the first baseman couldn’t scoop. After six batters and only one out recorded, JD decided to end the inning early and handed the ball to AJ. AJ quickly settled the situation, starting with Fabio Peralta’s leadoff single. Despite the initial struggles from our potential starters, AJ regained control and displayed the pitching dominance expected, retiring the next three batters in order.
Tate rebounded nicely in the second inning, complemented by Alonzo Alvarez hitting into a 4-6-3 DP to end the inning after Michael Torres reached base on a one-out single and Brylan West was struck. The third inning reflected what JD wanted to see in his Saturday starter, striking out three after walking the initial batter. The 4th showed a slip in the progress he had made in the prior two innings, with opening doubles by Derek Williams and Cian Copeland. A passed ball advanced Cian to third, and he scored on a 4-6-3 DP. The 5th inning, with the predesignated baserunner on second, was short-lived, with Dylan Dubovik leaving the yard convincingly. Tate’s performance today will have JD seriously considering whether Tate is the direction he wants to go in for Saturday night.
AJ breezed through the second inning, facing three batters. An opening double by Dubovik to open the third came in to score on what should have been called out at home, barring the catcher dropping the ball for the score. Just another example of sloppy defensive play. AJ bounced back in the 4th with a quick 3-man showing. AJ’s 5th gave way to a SF by Cuvet to right for a score. William’s double would go unchecked, with AJ striking out Copeland for the final out of the inning. All said and done, AJ showed he is still the best consideration to start us off with a W Friday night.
The remaining BP pitchers each pitched one inning, starting with a runner on second to simulate coming in for relief. Jack Durso and Michael Fernandez had the opening responsibilities. Jack managed to hold the runner at third after a successful sacrifice bunt by Fabio, striking out the next two batters he faced. Michael, however, was less fortunate, allowing a bunt single by Michael Torres followed by a sacrifice fly by Alvarez. Both pitchers delivered a satisfactory performance.
Brixton Lofgren and Lonzo Drummond received the call for the 7th inning. Brixton quickly shut down the three batters he faced. Although he was used sparingly at the end of last season, his impressive preseason performances have moved him to the top of the pitching roster, and he’s early in being called up for relief work in the upcoming season. If he remains healthy, I expect to see him frequently this season. Lonzo is another strong candidate, having been called upon in relief as well. Watkins set up the scoring opportunity with a successful SAC bunt, and Fabio drove in the run with a 4-3 groundout. Both pitchers looked solid, and like Brixton, I anticipate Lonzo’s name being announced regularly over the PA system.
Finalizing today’s scrimmage are the presumed setup and closing pitchers: Packy Bradley-Cooney and Ryan Bilka. Packy did not perform at his best in his last outing. Another sacrifice bunt by Michael Torres set up Brylan West with an RBI single. Ryan, who also struggled in his previous appearance, continued on the same course, walking the first two batters to load the bases, with Derek Williams doubling for 2 RBIs. After striking out Copeland, he loaded the bases again with his third walk of the inning. The scrimmage concluded on a somewhat concerning note, raising questions about whether our closer, after walking three batters, remains the right choice.
Our position players are steadily finding their rhythm, tallying 14 hits, half of which were for extra bases. Derek Williams led the way with a perfect 3-3 performance, all doubles. Notably, his double in the final inning against closer Ryan Bilka was a game-changer. Dylan Dubovik, trying to establish his role either as a pitcher or outfielder, appeared to find his spot as a pinch hitter, going 2-3 with a double and a home run. Two other players with multiple hits today were Jake Ogden and Michael Torres. Daniel Cuvet launched his first home run of the preseason, driving in 3 RBIs, while Cian Copeland contributed an RBI double. This is the offensive potential we anticipated and have been waiting to see all preseason. On paper, this team is strong offensively, and until recent games, it has yet to fully showcase its capabilities. Hopefully, the rust has been shaken off, and we can move forward with high-octane power.
Tomorrow marks Fan Fest, a full day of activities beginning at 3PM with player autographs and the softball alumni game, culminating in an intrasquad game at 6 PM. Former players will be introduced by Jay Rokeach after the softball game. This year’s event features a different format, but it promises to be an exciting day at the Light.
Mike Kaffee
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