Baseball team veterans bat, ‘young arms’ make easy work of Biola
In their second matchup in two weeks, the Panthers dominated Biola University — affiliated with the NCAA’s Division II — 13-4, thanks to seven combined hits from seniors Hank Zeisler and Mack Cheli and strong pitching performances from three freshmen. Above, freshman Warner Rhodes pitches in his first collegiate game at Hart Park April 7.
Been there, done that.
Chapman baseball’s fearsome 2020 offense was a major contributor to its 12-3 record before COVID-19 shut down the team’s season. This year, the squad has returned seven out of the nine players from its starting lineup, according to Mack Cheli, a senior first baseman. The veterans showed out on Wednesday night, as the Panthers’ bats sent pitches all over the field in a 13-4 win over Biola University April 7.
Cheli and Hank Zeisler, a senior third baseman, were catalysts of the offense. The two combined for seven hits in nine at-bats, six runs batted in and three runs scored.
Zeisler — who notched four hits — attributed the team’s success at the plate to its seasoned experience in stressful situations.
“Having experience in our lineup gives the whole team a sense of comfort,” Zeisler said. “In the 2019 run (to the national championship) where we were losing or things weren’t going our way, we were so confident we were going to win. Carrying that in this year will help the young guys, especially down the stretch in playoffs.”
It was those young guys who stood out on the other side of the ball April 7. Freshman Warner Rhodes took the bump as the starter for the Panthers, and coach Scott Laverty used three freshmen and two sophomores in relief through the rest of the game.
It was Rhodes’ first collegiate appearance, but the freshman didn’t seem too fazed by the bright lights. He attributed his success to his past pitching experiences.
“Obviously, there’s a little bit of nerves when you’re out there,” Rhodes said. “But at the end of the day, I’ve been doing this for years and I feel comfortable on the mound.”
He only pitched one inning, but it went smoothly, retiring all three batters he faced and striking out two.
Head coach Scott Laverty was pleased at the way young arms like Rhodes’ threw on Wednesday night. While they haven’t had much time to practice, he believed they all earned a shot after intense intrasquad scrimmages the past few weeks.
“For the guys that pitched last night, some of them had rough starts (during scrimmages),” Laverty said. “It was really neat to see some of those guys who had struggled to make the adjustments and play well.”
Even if the young guns didn’t pull through on the mound April 7, it still may not have mattered to the end result that saw an onslaught of an offensive performance.
Cheli, who drove in four runs, knows the continued success of Chapman’s offense this season is going to be important, as league play is right around the corner.
“Hitting is going to be a big thing for us this year,” Cheli said. “We have a couple vets on the pitching staff, but a lot of young arms, so we know as hitters we have to step it up and maintain a solid amount of runs each game.”
Laverty is excited about the team’s personnel on offense.
“(Last night’s offensive performance) was the epitome of experience,” Laverty said. “The championship team had young hitters and old pitchers and now we’re the opposite. With those guys having the experience of going through a full season, it allows us to stay calm in the moment.”
As the season continues and Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play begins with a doubleheader against the University of Redlands April 17, baseball will look to continue its hot streak at the plate and improve consistency on the mound.
“What we did against a good Biola team hopefully set us up with the confidence level we need heading into Redlands and the shortened conference season,” Laverty said.