el Don NewsBaseball game date: February 25, 2012.
Sophomore Jarret Porter started the seventh inning Saturday throwing two consecutive walks. Dons’ Head Coach Don Sneddon signals for the reliever. Porter hands the ball to freshman Christian Uchytil then jogs to the dugout in disgust.
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“Unfortunately Porter struggled with his command,” Sneddon said.
The Dons (10-2) scored runs in three consecutive innings, starting in the second, before tacking on an insurance run in the top half of the eighth to win, 5-2, on Mazmanian Field at Mt. San Antonio College.
Uchytil retired the next three batters in order.
“I just tried to go in throw strikes and try not to leave anything up,” Uchytil said. “I felt relieved to get out of the inning with no runs.”
The Dons sent seven different right-handed pitches to the mound. No pitcher threw more than two innings. The pitcher-by-committee was planned by the coaching staff setting impromptu auditions for a rotation spot.
“We start league on Thursday and we have to find a third starter, so we knew we were going to do this about a week ago,” Sneddon said. “There are some guys who haven’t thrown this year, so we needed to see them throw.”
Uchytil and freshman Matt Blanchard sat the last nine batters down in order.
“When you throw seven different pitchers, you never get a chance to time things,” Sneddon said.
The Dons won three straight games, Feb. 23 through Feb. 25, and next play Tuesday on the road at Los Angeles Pierce College.
OTHER DON’s BASEBALL COVERAGE::
Dons beat Huskies to mush (Feb. 24, 2012)
Dons avenge loss in hit parade (Feb. 23, 2012)
Dons capitalize on Falcon errors (Feb. 16, 2012)
Diamond Kings of Santa Ana (Preview)
Doubles allow Dons to tie up Brahmas (Feb 11, 2012)
