header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
January 21
1914 - Signal newspaper owner-editor Scott Newhall born in San Francisco [story]
Scott Newhall


By Mason Nesbitt, TMU Sports Information Director

Monte Brooks‘ mission when he approached the mound with two outs in Friday’s ninth inning was to calm down senior Scott Savage, who had just walked two batters to load the bases and force in a run.

The Mustangs were clinging to a two-run lead with white knuckles, but Brooks spoke with a touch of his signature humor.

“I said, ‘Did you know I pitched in pro ball?'” TMU’s head coach recounted later, laughing. “He said, ‘Yeah, coach.’ I said, ‘It’s fun isn’t it? It’s fun to pitch.'”

Brooks played nearly every defensive position in the San Diego Padres farm system. Of his 313 games, he pitched in three.

The comical nature of the comment evidently wasn’t lost on Savage, who gathered himself and struck out the game’s final batter, delivering a much-needed 6-4 win over Vanguard University on Friday at Lou Herwaldt Stadium.

“I wanted to make sure the fans got what they paid for,” said Savage, who earned his first save since March 25, 2017.

The outing saved the Mustangs (23-19, 15-16) from squandering two leads on the day and gave them a boost in the race for the Golden State Athletic Conference tournament. TMU holds fourth-place by one game over Hope International and 3.5 games over Arizona Christian. Five teams make the tournament. Five games remain after Friday’s tightrope act.

In the ninth, Savage was the second Mustang to pitch. Caleb Jaime trotted out to the hill for his second full inning of work and retired two of the first three hitters he faced. Then he hit Shane Elias-Calles with a pitch, and Brooks turned to Savage, one of TMU’s best starting pitchers to this point.

Savage had played catch in the eighth, then got hot in a hurry.

“I’m always ready. I told him, ‘Yeah, I’m ready to go,'” said Savage, who loaded the bases then fell behind 2-0 on Vanguard’s Chris Rodriguez.

On the mound, Brooks reminded Savage of the situation: The wind was blowing in. This was not the heart of Vanguard’s order.

Savage pumped a fastball over the inside corner. Rodriguez fouled a heater straight back. And Savage finished him with a high slider to snap Vanguard’s seven-game winning streak.

Master’s had lost six of eight, but shortstop Aaron Shackelford made an early point of rectifying that.

In the first inning, the junior launched a no-doubt, two-run shot down the right field line. The home plate umpire dropped to a knee to watch it curl inside the foul pole, jabbing his left arm toward the infield to declare Shackelford’s team-leading 10th blast a fair ball.

Shackelford, who hit 14 home runs last season, took his helmet off as he neared home plate and clinked it with cheery teammates.

“Did you see how easy it was?” Brooks said of Shackelford’s swing.

Shackelford finished the day a triple short of the cycle, putting Master’s ahead 3-1 with an RBI double in the second inning and bunting for a hit in the fourth.

Pearson Good tallied two hits for Master’s, which will host Vanguard in a double-header starting at noon on Saturday.

The Lions sent their ace to the hill in the opener. But by the end of the first inning, the Mustangs had scored more runs against Jordan Dreibelbis than they had in eight innings the last time they saw him.

Dreibelbis — a senior who entered Friday with the GSAC’s lowest ERA — nearly went the distance on Feb. 23, striking out five and forcing Master’s to pound the ball into the dirt to the tune of 11 groundouts.

TMU’s six runs Friday matched the most Dreibelbis had allowed in a game this season.

“I told the guys … ‘Talent-wise, we’re right there,'” Brooks said. “… We have some talent, but we have to play smarter.”

And they have to hit in the clutch.

In the first inning, after Shackelford’s home run, the Mustangs left the bases loaded.

They left a man at third in the second. They had first and second with one out in the third before Dreibelbis induced a tailor-made double play.

Two base-running mistakes cost TMU, too. But even after Vanguard pulled even at 3-3 with two runs in the seventh, Master’s answered right back.

Catcher Ryan Bricker led off the seventh with a ground ball to third that was thrown away, allowing Bricker to take second.

Vanguard intentionally walked Shackelford. Then Maitland ripped a single to right and clenched his fists in celebration as he ran to first. Brooks initially held courtesy runner Ricky Sottile at third, but when the ball was misplayed in the outfield, Sottile sprinted home for the go-ahead run.

Then, with runners on the corners, Maitland got caught in a run down. Shackelford rushed home from third and slid head first. The umpire ruled that the catcher blocked the plate and waved his arms, safe.

Preston White banged a single into left to make it 6-3.

None of it came early enough to make a winner of Nate Bonsell, but the Mustang starter was strong over 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) and pitched out of early danger.

In the first, with a run already in, runners at the corners, and one out, Bonsell fell behind Vanguard’s No. 5 hitter, 2-0. He rebounded to strike the hitter out. The next one, too.

“Just go pitch by pitch,” Bonsell said of his mindset in the first. “… I just wanted to throw strikes and not worry about five pitches ahead. Just get the next one right there.”

That’s the approach Master’s hopes to employ as it closes in on a berth in the conference tournament.

Here’s the box score.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


WATCH NOW
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration Time 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Progress: 0%
Stream TypeLIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
LOCAL SPORTS HEADLINES
Monday, Jan 20, 2025
The Master's University men's basketball defense stepped up in the final moments of the game to get an 80-72 conference road win over Benedictine Mesa Thursday night, Jan. 16.
Monday, Jan 20, 2025
Three different players each scored 17 points and the team shot nearly 50 percent from the field as The Master's University women's basketball team defeated Benedictine Mesa 83-71 Thursday night, Jan. 16 in Mesa, Ariz.
Monday, Jan 20, 2025
College of the Canyons men's basketball had four players reach double-digits but it wasn't enough to keep pace with No. 5 state-ranked Citrus College in a 111-77 road affair Wednesday night, Jan. 15.
Monday, Jan 20, 2025
College of the Canyons women's basketball is still looking for its first conference victory after its 75-54 road loss at Citrus College on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Tuesday, Jan 14, 2025
College of the Canyons freshman Wyatt Wilson finished with 32 points to lead the Cougars men's basketball team past visiting Glendale College 96-74 during the Western State Conference, South Division opener on Saturday, Jan. 11.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1914 - Signal newspaper owner-editor Scott Newhall born in San Francisco [story]
Scott Newhall
District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman has announced the appointment of Michael Gennaco as Special Prosecutor who is among the nation’s foremost experts in civil rights and police misconduct cases.
DA Hires Special Prosecutor for Police Misconduct Cases
In response to the ongoing challenges posed by the Palisades and Eaton Fires, the county of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control has mobilized its resources and partnerships to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals affected.
DACC Facilitates Adoption, Rescue Efforts in Response to Wildfires
The WiSH Education Foundation Wednesday Webinar series continues 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 with "College Admissions for Visual and Performing Arts Majors."
Feb. 12: WiSH Webinar on ‘College Admissions for Visual, Performing Arts Majors’
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, Jan. 21 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 21: SUSD Governing Board Regular Meeting
A Better World Running will host the Cupid Dash 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at West Creek Park 24247 Village Circle Drive, Valencia, CA 91354.
Feb. 16: Cupid Dash 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon
The Los Angeles County Department of Military & Veterans Affairs will resume normal operations at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall (1816 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California, 90015) on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Jan. 21: Normal Operations Resume at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is issuing a windblown dust and ash advisory following strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region through Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m.
L.A. Public Health Windblown Dust, Ash Advisory
The Master's University men's basketball defense stepped up in the final moments of the game to get an 80-72 conference road win over Benedictine Mesa Thursday night, Jan. 16.
Defense Stepped Up in Mustangs Win over BenU
Three different players each scored 17 points and the team shot nearly 50 percent from the field as The Master's University women's basketball team defeated Benedictine Mesa 83-71 Thursday night, Jan. 16 in Mesa, Ariz.
TMU Women’s Hoops Gets Road Win over Redhawks
College of the Canyons men's basketball had four players reach double-digits but it wasn't enough to keep pace with No. 5 state-ranked Citrus College in a 111-77 road affair Wednesday night, Jan. 15.
Canyons Can’t Get Past No. 5 Citrus College
College of the Canyons women's basketball is still looking for its first conference victory after its 75-54 road loss at Citrus College on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Ceja, Saridin Shine, Cougars Fall at Citrus
Ahead of another forecasted Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag warning and extreme fire weather, Los Angeles County is asking the public to prepare.
County Warns: Dangerous Santa Ana Winds, Extreme Fire Weather
1993 - Hart High grad Dee Dee Myers (1979) becomes first female White House press secretary [story]
Dee Dee Myers
1967 - Original airing of Star Trek "Arena" Episode: Kirk battles the Gorn commander (Saugus resident Bobby Clark) at Vasquez Rocks [watch]
Kirk vs. Gorn commander
1899 - Martin & Richard Wood buy J.H. Tolfree's Saugus Eating House (still inside Saugus Depot), rename it Saugus Cafe [story]
Saugus Cafe
Fritz Coleman’s show "Unassisted Living," in Residency at the El Oortal Monroe Forum in North Hollywood, will be performed on Sunday, Jan. 26 t0 benefit the California Community Foundation Wildlife Recovery Fund with 100% of all profits raised donated to the fund.
Jan. 26: Fritz Coleman’s ‘Unassisted Living’ to Benefit Wildfire Recovery Fund
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, Jan. 22, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 3 p.m.
Jan. 22: COC Board Business Meeting
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau continues its dedicated efforts to locate individuals reported missing following the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires.
LASD Reports 17 Still Missing in L.A. Area Wildfires
The Canyon Theatre Guild opens the Broadway musical, "West Side Story" on Saturday, Jan. 18 on stage at the community theater in Old Town Newhall.
‘West Side Story’ Opens at the Canyon Theatre Guild
The William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board has unanimously approved the appointment of Jordan Meraz as the new Director of Technology Services.
Jordan Meraz Named Hart Director of Technology Services
The American Red Cross is offering financial assistance for families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Los Angeles County wildfires. Assistance available to those affected by Eaton, Palisades, Hurst and Kenneth fires.
Red Cross Offers Financial Assistance to Fire Victims
Cal Fire and the Los Angeles County Fire Department have reported that containment efforts continue for all three activie fires still burning in Southern California.
Repopulation Efforts in Eaton, Palisades Fire Areas, 27 Fire Deaths Reported
SCVNews.com