MAXWELL, CA (MPG) – Since taking over in 2018, Tyler Wells has worked to develop the baseball program at Maxwell High School and restore the competitiveness it had when he starred for the Panthers.
And albeit early in the season, it appears the groundwork has paid off given that Maxwell swept the competition at their home tournament, which ran from Mar. 6-8, improving their record to 4-0 thus far.
It was an effort that Wells appreciated as he explained after his team’s final game of the tournament.
“The boys came out ready to go against a good opponent,” Wells said. “Early in the tournament we were giving away at bats and weren’t putting enough pressure on the other team, but today we had a plan and our guys really executed it. This team is very talented, but also not satisfied. It showed today when we opened up the cage to get in some extra swings and the whole team was there.”
Mar. 6 against Lindhurst.
In its first game against Lindurst, Maxwell put 11 runs on the board in the first inning as they shutout the Blazers 15-0.
While the Panthers only recorded four hits, they were the beneficiaries of 15 free passes in a contest that went just three innings.
On the mound, Levi Velazquez struck out seven and yielded just a single hit.
Following up in its second game of the afternoon, Maxwell held off Live Oak 4-1 behind a strong outing from Vincent Orozco, in which the sophomore went five and a third innings on the hill scattering three hits and striking out five, then finished 2 for 3 with a double at the plate.
Massey Baker went the final inning and two-thirds to close out the Lions, while Yahir Alcaraz had a nice day with the bat going 2 for 3 and driving in a pair of runs.
Mar. 7.
Concluding tournament play on Saturday against Plumas Charter (Greenville), Alcaraz turned in another notable performance, tossing three innings of one-hit ball in addition to doubling in each of his three at bats and knocking in two runs as the Panthers prevailed 8-0.
Baker, who also had an RBI double, went the final two frames on the bump, conceding two hits while fanning four.
Landon Barrett was 2 for 2 and Velazquez also doubled to drive in a run.
The results of the tournament speaks to the strength of the Panthers this season, which is pitching and is something Wells is excited about.
“We have five guys that can throw up a lot of zeros,” said Wells. “We throw strikes, hold runners and are comfortable throwing any pitch in any count.”
This week was a good test for Maxwell who hosted Redding Christian on Monday, was in Live Oak on Wednesday then began play at Fort Bragg’s Bill Pavioni Invitational today.
Other local teams participating in the Panthers’ tournament included Pierce and Williams, although no other information was made available before the Pioneer Review print deadline.