Crawdads stay scorching hot, stay atop of the CCL North

It was blazing hot as the scorching sun erupted from the clear blue sky. Emerging from the shaded dugout, Walnut Creek legend senior outfielder Ryan Ellis stepped into the batter's box in the first inning.  

He's the leader of the team. One thing not present to fans: Ellis was chasing the history books. As one of, if not the longest-standing Crawdads player of all-time, he was looking for his 11th home run to firmly put him atop the leaderboard. 

Locating his left foot into the batter's box first, Ellis set up his normal way. Pitches one and two: balls. Pitch three: a strike. Pitch four: Ball. 3-1 count, with one on. The Crawdad legend swung next pitch, sending a rocket to right-center field to open the scoring. Little did he know that'd be the start to yet another offensive onslaught and a 3-for-5 day for himself. 

Walnut Creek took down Menlo Park 14-10 on Thursday at Monte Vista High School in another offensive onslaught. Contrary to the scoreline, the pitching was much better than the 10-spot pictured on the big scoreboard in left field. 

"I honestly think it's the stress gone," redshirt freshman outfielder and first baseman Bryden Bull said on what is making the offense so successful. "When you and your team care about each other, and you're having the most fun as possible, it makes everyone better." 

The Crawdads would see two more home runs after Ellis's in the game. Bull homered in his second straight game, whilst senior infielder Kevin Parker Jr. hit his first in a Crawdads uniform. 

It was quite fitting to have Ellis, the veteran of the team and Parker Jr., a newcomer, hit their first homers just an inning apart. 

Ellis talked about his leadership and what he feels his role is. 

"I was telling them I was once their age, a younger guy in summer ball," Ellis said.  "(I was) looking up to the older guy, so I know what it's like, and (I) just try to lead by example and help them out whenever they need." 

Ellis and Bull's home runs both came in the first inning. It was the first time the Crawdads hit two or more home runs in a game. 

Walnut Creek had other offensive production alongside the long ball. Junior first-baseman Barrett Ronson continued to rack up hard contact, going 2-for-5 and scooping up three RBI. Meanwhile, junior middle infielder Alijah Ramos also had two hits and drove in two. 

The Crawdads continue to show offensive versatility. They can score in a multitude of ways and can do it with any single person up-and-down the lineup. 

"I mean, it's great," Bull said on lineup versatility. "You instantly feel like you're not carrying a bowling ball on your shoulders. I know I can go up there and strike out  and another guy behind me can instantly pick me up."

The pitching continued to throw strikes. The biggest issue was a couple of hit batters and some unlucky bloop hits into the outfield, particularly in the second. 

Junior right-handed pitcher Vance Haskins made his Crawdads debut, allowing three runs in 1.1 innings. Picking him up was redshirt freshman Tre Golino, who allowed just one hit and one walk through 1.2 innings. He picked up two strikeouts as well. 

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Myles Brand allowed his first run of the season on Thursday but still went two innings of two-hit baseball. On the season, Brand has worked five innings and allowed just one earned run. 

Sophomore right-hander Weston Thornbury allowed just one hit, one walk and one hit-by-pitch while striking out two through two innings. On the year, Thornbury has yet to allow a run in 4.2 innings. 

"It's hard to hold offenses with zero or one run," Walnut Creek coach Brant Cummings said. "It's not going to happen very often. Overall, I think early in the game, we did a really good job of limiting their chances, and that made a difference towards the end of the game." 

Walnut Creek is undefeated at Monte Vista High School and looks to continue that trend when they face Alameda on June 12 at 4:00 p.m. PDT.