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WEEK IN REVIEW 4/19
POKES PICK UP ANOTHER EBAL VICTORY AGAINST CAL
Livermore went 1-1 on the week dropping a non league game to San Marin but beat Cal in league. The San Marin game was not the Pokes' day as they were beat 7-0 in Novato. The Mustangs scored four runs in the first inning on one hit and never looked back. Livermore just could not get anything going on offense.
Wednesday was a much better day for the Pokes as they beat Cal 4-1 behind stellar pitching from CJ Johnston and Josh Rodriguez. Johnston went 5 innings to get the win. He struck out six batters and only walked two. Rodriguez got the save by going two innings and striking out five. Tanner Lee had two doubles and scored two runs, while AJ Cook had two hits and two RBIs. Zach Bickerton and Braeden McRae each added doubles for the Pokes.
WEEK IN REVIEW 4/12
LIVERMORE SWEEPS DUBLIN 7-0 AND 10-7
The Pokes carried their success from the Spring Break Tourney into league by sweeping the Gaels. Game 1 was all Josh Rodriguez as he threw a complete game one hitter by completing shutting down the Gaels offense. He was very, very good on the mound.He struck out 8 along the way. Jaden Vassallo continued to swing a hot bat by collecting 2 more hits as did Andrew Arante. AJ Cook had 3 RBI's in the game.
Game 2 saw the Pokes pull away late and then hang on to win it. Livermore went ahead 1-4 into the 7th and finally won 10-7. Mateo Bullis and Tanner Lee each had two hits and CJ Johnston and AJ Cook each homered. The big blow of the game was a bases clearing triple for Hayden Maas. The Pokes pitching staff was anchored by CJ Johnston who threw 4 1/3 innings and struck out 7.
WEEK IN REVIEW- SERVICE CHAMPIONS CLASSIC
POKES GO 2-1 BY BEATING SANTA ROSA AND NORTHGATE
Livermore belted out 12 hits en route to the 8-7 victory over Santa Rosa. This marked the first time Livermore has beat Santa Rosa in this tournament! Jaden Vassallo had three hits while Hayden Maas, Griff Lee and AJ Cook all had two hits. Hayden Maas had a triple to lead off the bottom of the 7th and eventually scored the walk off run by a sacrifice fly by Mate Bullis. Four pitchers threw for the Pokes while Dom Villasenor closed the door and got the win for Livermore.
Game 2 saw a close back and forth game against College Park (who went on to win the tourney) in which the Pokes lost 5-4. Andrew Arante and Braeden McRae both had two hits for Livermore. Braden Ford and Dom Villasenor both threw well for the Pokes in the loss.
Game #3 got the Pokes back on track in the W column as they beat Northgate 7-6. Tanner Lee had 3 hits and Zach Bickerton had two hits to lead the Pokes. They each had 2 RBIs also. Ryan Kohn was very good on the mound again by going 5 innings and only allowing one earned run while striking out 5.
WEEK IN REVIEW 3/29
LIVERMORE GAINS A SPLIT WITH AMADOR VALLEY; BOTH GAMES WERE 4-3
The Pokes and Dons seemed to like the score 4-3 as they traded wins by the same score. Each team won the away game in the series. In Game 1 of the series, AV sent their ace to mound and Livermore hit him pretty well by collecting 9 hits. Hayden Maas had 2 hits while Andrew Arante collected three hits. In a very unusual stat line, the Pokes scored all their runs on passed balls! Josh Rodriguez was very good on the bump going 4 1/3 innings striking out 6 and only giving up 1 earned run.
Game 2 was at Amador and the Pokes scored single runs in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th to squeak out a 4-3 win. Tanner Lee and Braeden McRae each had two hits while McRae also drove in a run. Ryan Kohn was very good on the mound going 6 strong innings only allowing 2 runs. Nik Mirra came in and got the save throwing the 7th inning and striking out one. The game ended on a beautiful 4-6-3 double play from Tanner Lee and Jaden Vassallo.
WEEK IN REVIEW 3/22
POKES LOSING SLIDE CONTINUES
Livermore lost a back and forth battle with Monte Vista 11-7and then lost to De La Salle 12-0. The Pokes had 8 hits against Monte Vista but they could not hold the Mustangs down. Tanner Lee had three hits and three RBIs for the Pokes to lead the charge offensively as Livermore continued to put up big numbers on offense this year. Six other players registered hits for the Pokes. The Friday game did not go as well as the Spartans ran away with the game late as the Pokes had no answer for their late inning runs. Jaden Vassallo had two hits for Livermore.
WEEK IN REVIEW 3/15
TOUGH WEEK FOR THE POKES AS THEY DROP BOTH GAMES
Livermore traveled to Dougherty Valley to play their first EBAL game and were greeted with brutally tough conditions at their field. The infield was long and the wind was howling straight in at about 30+MPH. Livermore had one of their best days at the plate in terms of "squaring balls up" but the wind and the infield made it very tough to get a hit. Mateo Bullis and AJ Cook each hit balls that would have easily been home runs at Livermore but just died in the wind. Tanner Lee managed two hits with one being a great bunt single. Livermore scratched out their only run on a delay steal on a 1st and 3rd lay in the first inning. The Wildcats held the Pokes to the one run and won 3-1.
The second game of the week against SRV was the polar opposite of Wednesday. It was an old school Wild West Shootout. The Pokes scored seven runs with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the first inning to take a 7-0 lead into the second. San Ramon was not missing many balls at the plate but the Livermore defense was ready turning four double plays during the game. The Wolves clawed back into the game and eventually took a 9-7 lead into the sixth. Livermore tied it up with a 2RBI single by Mateo Bullis in the bottom of the 6th. Nik Mirra held the Wolves scoreless in the 7th setting the stage for the "almost walk-off." AJ Cook led off with a walk and was sacrificed to 2B by Blake Bystrom. After an intentional walk to Braeden McRae, Hayden Druba hit a scorching line drive down the left field line that was foul by 4". SRV eventually got out of the inning and went on to win in the 8th.
WEEK IN REVIEW 3/8
POKES SUFFER FIRST LOSS OF THE YEAR AFTER BEATING MOUNTAIN HOUSE
Livermore made easy work of Mountain House by beating them 11-2. It was a very basic/working man's win for the Pokes. Ryan Kohn and Alex Martinez were brilliant on the bump holding MH to three hits and two unearned runs. They struck out seven along the way. Tanner Lee, Braden Ford and Nico Rodriguez all collected two hits for Livermore while Andrew Arante had two RBIs and Ford had three RBIs. Livermore went up 4-0 in the second inning and never looked back.
The bats were not as lucky on Friday against Washington. The Huskies pitcher handled the Pokes and limited them to four singles on the day: Nico Rodriguez, AJ Cook, Hayden Maas and Tanner Lee. Livermore's only run came on a bases loaded walk in the 7th by Andrew Arante. The Pokes left the bases loaded in the 7th to end the game. Livermore's pitching was outstanding on the day: CJ Johnston went six innings, striking out five and walking none. Josh Rodriguez threw one inning and struck out one. He also did not walk anyone.
WEEK IN REVIEW 3/1
LIVERMORE BEATS PETALUMA; GETS RAINED OUT AGAINST SAN MARIN
The Pokes traveled north to play a tough Petaluma team and came away with a hard fought 3-2 victory in a playoff-type atmosphere. Livermore got out early with a 2-0 lead led by Braden Ford's RBI single and Zach Bickerton's RBI ground out. Petaluma got one back on a home run, but the Pokes answered with Ford's second RBI of the game with an HBP with the bases loaded. Livermore was stout on the mound as CJ Johnston went 4 1/3 scoreless innings and Josh Rodriguez closed out the final 2 2/3 striking out three and walking none. Rodriguez had a huge moment on the mound after coming into the game in the 5th with 1st and 2nd and one out. He hit the first batter he faced with his first pitch to load the bases. He then composed himself and struck out the next two guys to end the threat! Livermore is now 4-0 with having won three 1-run games. The make-up game with San Marin is TBA.
WEEK IN REVIEW 2/23
POKES RUN THEIR RECORD TO 3-0 WITH WINS OVER NEWARK AND MISSION SAN JOSE
Livermore had a good D2 test against Newark as they had two very good pitchers, but the Pokes found a way to win. After going up 3-0 early, Newark battled back and made their only two hits against CJ Johnston count. Johnston threw a great 5 innings to give the Pokes a chance to win. After Newark threatened to score in the 7th to win it, the teams traded a scoreless 8th inning. Jaden Vassallo led of the 9th with a single and was bunted over to 2nd by Tanner Lee. One batter later, Vassallo stole 3rd and Newark threw it away to score the go-ahead run. Braden Ford closed out the 9th for the win. Ford threw three scoreless innings to pick up his first Varsity win.
Friday saw the Pokes man handle the Mission San Jose Warriors 19-0. Everyone got into the action on the mound and at the plate. Josh Rodriguez, Nik Mirra, Alex Martinez and Andrew Arante held the Warriors to two hits and zero runs. The offense was in high gear too, as CJ Johnston and Zach Bickerton both hit towering home runs to lead the charge.
WEEK IN REVIEW 2/16
POKES ESCAPE WITH OPENING DAY WIN IN THEIR ONLY GAME OF WEEK
The Livermore bats came to play on opening day, especially Tanner Lee, who went 3-4 with three doubles and four RBI. The pitching staff struggled to find the zone against the Vikings of Irvington but when they did, there was not much contact as they struck out 11 Vikings' batters (in only 6 innings because the game was called because of darkness). The Pokes found themselves in a 6-0 and 7-1 hole but battled back behind the offensive outburst from Lee. His bases loaded double that scored all three got the game tied and eventually led to a 9-8 win.
UPGRADES TO THE YARD
MANY PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED WHILE OTHERS STILL BEING DONE
Pokes Baseball is always looking to upgrade the yard and facilities and this year is no different. There have been many major projects in the past: re-sodded the infield grass four times since 2001, new dugouts in 2005, new brick backstop and raised seating area in 2007, new batting cages in 2008, new home run fencing in 2008, sponsored brick wall in 2009, Wall of Fame and box seating in 2010, trees planted in outfield in 2011, new scoreboard in 2017, remodeled clubhouse in 2017, new home and visitor's bullpens in 2020 and a new mower to create patterns in the outfield in 2022. This year also saw quite a few changes to the yard:
NEW SIDING/REMODELED HOME DUGOUT AND WALL OF FAME: New siding, new paint, new plaques and signs for the Wall of Fame and back of the dugout. New custom benches are coming for both dugouts.
TURF ON PARTS OF FIELD: Artificial turf will be installed on the baselines and behind home plate
NEW BATTING CAGE NETS: Brand new nets in all the cages with new hitting mats coming in the spring
2024 SCHEDULE HAS BEEN FINALIZED
THE POKES WILL TAKE ON SOME NEW OPPONENTS THIS SPRING
Livermore is always searching for D2 opponents in the preseason to build their "playoff resume" since we are the only D2 school in EBAL. The Pokes play many of the same teams every year but have a few new ones on the list this season. Their non-league schedule will consist of the following teams: Irvington, Newark, Mission San Jose, Petaluma, San Marin, Mountain House, Washington and Kimball. EBAL is the same format with Livermore playing the Valley teams twice: Dublin, Amador Valley, Foothill and Granada. The Pokes then play the other half once: Dougherty Valley, Cal, Monte Vista, San Ramon Valley and De La Salle. Livermore will host the Service Champions Classic with Foothill again and it is a very good tournament again this year: Livermore, Foothill, Northgate, San Marin, Redwood, Heritage, College Park and Santa Rosa. The Pokes will open up with Santa Rosa.