Atherton, CA-The second year of Menlo Baseball head coach Alex Hoover's tenure is off to a great start with the Oaks winning both games of their season opening double header! Menlo unleashed a revamped roster featuring a combination of returning players, junior transfers and promising freshmen to great effect. Across the two games the Oaks outscored the visiting Corban Warriors 21-6, outhit them 19-8 and won the strikeout battle 16-11. In other words, it was all Oaks for the better part of two games as Menlo is off to a great start for the 2024 season!

Game One: Menlo 13, Corban 1

It took Menlo a few innings to really get going offensively but starting pitcher Anthony Tellez was more than up to the task of controlling the game from the mound. Through the first two innings of play Tellez held Corban to a single hit while striking out four in the first two frames of play. For the day the junior out of Fullerton was dialed in as he spent six innings dominating opposing batters. By the end of his time on the mound Tellez had posted eight strikeouts to a single walk while shutting Corban out. Not a bad season debut for the right handed pitcher!

Offensively, the floodgates would really begin to open in the bottom of the third. One of the biggest stories of the day was the stellar collegiate debut of freshman second baseman Carter Harris. Harris would not only hit a pair of singles but also come up with three stolen bases on the day. In fact, the Oaks first points of the day would come via Harris who would be driven in by Sage Pera. For the game, the trio of Pera, Justin Flannery and Jayshaun Wise would each be responsible for two RBI's a piece. Pera and Flannery were particularly dynamic as they combined for three doubles and four runs batted in. Yet, the highlight of the day would come courtesy of the starting first baseman Ethan Baird's bat! Midway through the bottom of the sixth inning, Jayshuan Wise would get hit by a pitch resulting in the bases being loaded. Baird would proceed to step into the batter's box and crush a pitch over the right field wall. The Oaks first homerun of the season would come in style as the Grand Slam would push Menlo's lead to a comfortable 11-0. In the end, the Oaks only allowed a single point which came after a player was hit by a pitch and an ensuing fielders choice allowed a runner to sneak across the plate. The first game of the day was Menlo Baseball firing on all cylinders in the batters box and on the mound!

Game Two: Menlo 8, Corban 5

Game two would prove to be a bit more of a challenge for Menlo but one that the boys were ready to take on. The Oaks would get in an early hole falling behind 0-4 through the first two innings behind some pitching miscues. As the third inning rolled around the Oaks sent senior Joshua Spezia out to the mound to try and right the ship. What followed was three innings that saw the Berlin native strike out 3 and give up zero hits! Spezia and a focused Oaks defense would only allow a single point through the rest of the game! As the innings began to wind down coach Hoover would go deep into his bullpen with Robely Corsi, Braden Proud and Charles Williams all getting some reps on the mound in the Oaks comeback effort.

Offensively, Menlo saw some familiar faces from early as well as some new bats carrying the scoring burden. Sage Pera once again made great contact for an additional two hits including his first homerun of the season over the right field wall! Justin Flannery collected another RBI double to improve upon an already outstanding debut in Menlo white. Additionally, the pair of Sean Pettener and Zach Dyer got in on the action as well. Pettener would add two RBI's to his resume thanks to some high IQ play. The first would come on a sacrifice fly for Menlo's first points of the day. His second RBI came as he drew a walk in the third inning with the bases loaded. Dyer was also crafty in the batters box drawing two walks that would eventually see him work his way across home plate. Dyer was a staple of the Oaks defense seeing action at multiple positions along the infield but his ability to get on base only further highlights the impact the junior has on this team. When it was all said and done, the Oaks refused to back down despite the early deficit and would go on to rally back and secure the sweep with an 8-5 victory in game two!

Up Next…

The Oaks will waste no time getting right back to action with another double header against Corban on deck for tomorrow. It was a great showing from Menlo that has a revitalized roster and is already starting to show the chemistry that coaches Alex Hoover and Trent Verlin have been looking to foster out at Cartan Field! After only winning nine games last year, the Oaks will look to improve to 4-0 as the new season is already looking like a promising one!

Menlo College is currently a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). To learn more about Menlo Athletics visit www.menloathletics.com or follow Menlo Athletics on Instagram (@menloathletics), X (@MenloAthletics) or Facebook (Menlo College Athletic).